9.18.2010

she's baaaaaaaaack!

wow.

just wow.

my last post in february was meant to be my final post on this blog.
i mean, i'd already been posting sporadically when i still was a bux barista. then i went on maternity leave, had a baby, quit bux and figured it was the end of the line for me as far as barista brat goes.

but here we are seven months later and i'm back posting.

"oh brat! did you find the real world so harsh and cruel you had to run back to the safety of the green apron?" some of you might be asking.
others might scoff "ha! you were always so high and mighty and now look at you: back as a soulless drone, once again property of the mighty corporation!"
most likely the bulk of you are thinking "who cares? i forgot i even had you on my blog feed."

so yes, even though i am once again a barista i am NOT working for bux.
nor am i working for coffee bean, peet's or seattle's best.
nope - i am working for......ME!

that's right.
i am my own boss. i am my very own howard schultz!

now, i did not at any time intend to open my own coffee house. in fact, i had opened an unrelated business, but my neighborhood and heart was screaming for coffee. and sometimes you have to go with your heart and with your gut.
so my espresso bar should be up and running within a couple weeks. i am still in the process of acquiring all my equipment, and finishing the decorative touches on my cafe.
also, i have found the BEST coffee roasters to supply my beans, and let me tell you - after visiting the roasting plant and sampling the different blends i now understand why so many people say bux coffee tastes burnt!

so i have to admit i'm happy to again be in the coffee business, and quite excited to be able to do things my way, instead of what a bunch of suits up in seattle deem cost effective.
i can't promise i'll blog with regularity, but i will try my best.
so, for those of you still reading, i'd be thrilled if you continue on this journey with me.
i hope you will all wish me luck!

33 comments:

SkippyMom said...

HI! So excited to see you! Well - in two places now! :D

This is so exciting. Congratulations. Can't wait to hear all about it. [And I have to agree on the burnt taste at bux. But I love their tea.]

Hugs and love darling.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on opening your own place! It is a lot of hard work with long hours but can be very rewarding. We'll be following.

Cup said...

*clappy hands*

So glad you're back, Brat, and that you're doing it YOUR way! That's one damn lucky neighborhood.

Unknown said...

Welcome back, congrats, and Good Luck!

Michelle said...

Awesome! Congratulations...looking forward to more updates.

Anonymous said...

Awesome....wishing you luck. Go get 'em!

Bailey said...

Wow! Good to see you back again; I always so enjoyed your writing. And congratulations on taking the plunge with your own business. Since I can't come by to buy, I'll just be here in PDX crossing my fingers for you. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your new baby and new business :D

Looking forward to reading all about it.

Anonymous said...

wow, I didnt expect to read that this morning brat, good luck with the new venture!

andy said...

Wow!

Good luck with your new venture. The world needs more independent places serving good coffee... I say sitting here sipping coffee from the "company" S'Bux.

From what I've read on your blog I think that you'll certainly have what it takes, and will remain true to the purpose of the coffee shop. Serving coffee - not second rate pastry!

Sarah said...

oh please do start writing again! you were one of my favorites!!

Random Thinker said...

Here, there.... I'll read you anywhere. Congratulations on following yet another dream. You are inspirational.

Adriana said...

I've been a fan of your blog for years, and although I've never been a barista, reading the creative ways you handled your workplace frustrations helped me to endure my own.

I'm so thrilled for you and the launch of your espresso bar! A long overdue thanks-for-everything and best wishes for the future :)

Ceetar said...

Congrats, and hopefully you'll keep blogging. Hearing about the business from this angle sounds pretty interesting, and I'd definitely stop by and visit if you made this a more formal blog. (Which I recommend. I always feel a stronger connection with a place that has a forward attitude and has a real website with hours, menu, and even a blog and a twitter account. )

Greg said...

Congratulations, both on family and business developments! I've been a lurker forever, but don't remember your location. Are you anywhere in the great northwest coffee kingdom? -- be sure to update your Facebook page with info when you're open!

Zoltar Panaflex said...

I need a vacation - where will this be??

Egads, I am SO EXCITED for you! Best of all luck in your business!!!

WOOHOO!!!

Yeah, I look pretty goofy jumping up and down.

I kept your blog bookmarked, I read it from the beginning once in a while, and it is wonderful to see you talkin' coffee again!

Zoltar Panaflex said...

And we all think you'll do better than Howard has been lately.

barista brat said...

skippymom - i'm sorry i haven't visited your blog lately, but i have been keeping you in my thoughts!

anon @ 5:44 - thanks!

beth - thank you, dearest! and you BEST come see me when your in my part of town!

craig - thank you!

michelle - i will do my best!

anon @ 8:57 - thanks!

bailey - thanks! maybe someday you'll be able to stop by!

anon @ 6:57 - thank you so much!

anon @ 5:18 - thank you!

andy - thanks so much! i am definitely going to do my best at having a great environment to drink great coffee.

sarah - thanks you! and i promise to post as often as i can.

random thinker - thank you kindly! i love having multiple ways to communicate with you, haha!

adriana - wow, that's such an amazing compliment. thank you.

ceetar - thanks! and the website is indeed in the works. i think i have the potential to keep the independent coffee house feel, but with the professionalism of a chain. at least that's what i'm striving for!

greg - i never stated it before, but i'm in california.

zoltar panaflex - thanks!!! and thank you for liking the facebook page, too! i'm in california, and i would love to meet you if you make it out here for vacation!

mags said...

Congratulations!!! How wonderful to have you back in the blogging world. Congrats on your new business venture - it will fun to read all about it! My husband and I opened a coffee shop in the early 90's (we thought we were being soooo creative...ha - this was before there were coffee shops everywhere)We had a great time with it.

Again - congrats and all the best!

Talula said...

Congrats on the baby and the new business! I hope you can find time to post for us, I do so miss your sardonic tone!

Unknown said...

Best of luck! Looking forward to reading about your new experiences as a business owner.

LN said...

Congrats and best wishes from a long time fan in the Netherlands!

Iryssa said...

Just found your blog with thanks to a former 'bux Barista. I'm eight months in my own green apron.

You would probably spit to hear the latest junk coming out of head office...but then I'm sure you've seen the ads for our new flavored coffees...so that gives you a pretty good idea. Be thankful you're missing the latest in efficiency training.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to your posts about being an owner! It's one of my own dreams...though it probably won't happen until the kids are off to school and we have some money to start up with.

Hungry said...

Awesome!!! I love it when there is a bit of good news, lord knows it's in short supply at the moment!! I am so happy that you are foing what you love and writing again!!! Hooray for you!!!

reptilegrrl said...

Congratulations! I am so excited for you- this sounds like a great adventure. The world needs more indie coffee places and I am glad that you, with your passion for coffee, have opened one. I hope this means you'll be back to blogging, because I really miss your blog.

Kim Sammons said...

Awesome news! I love that story & the fact you have decided to open your own store! Superb news.
I had loads of fun opening my first store, its such an exciting time!
Let us know how you're getting on & if you need any help give me a shout at
baristatrainingcourse@hotmail.com
It can be stressful too, so if you get stuck id love to help!
Kim xx

Anonymous said...

Great post! I’m looking to make some changes in my own eating habits, so I appreciate your insight a lot! Thank you. I recently stumbled upon this blog like I did yours and I thought your readers may appreciate it: http://burisonthecouch.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/food-for-thought/

I’ve started to look for their stuff more regularly and I think I’m going to add your blog to my list as well. Thanks for the post!

-Amy

Anonymous said...

Hey it's great to see you writing again, just checked this by accident and saw the update, made for a happy moment.
Please continue to write, you are so entertaining, it has always been a highlight of the morning.
Hope you and the new addition are doing great!

Anonymous said...

New baby, new business...wow! I used to work for a locally-owned cafe and it was, without a doubt, the most fun job I've ever had. Best wishes for the biz, hon.

LegalMist said...

So this post was nearly 4 months ago... yet not another word... I'd love to hear how your new coffee venture is going. How does it feel to be the owner instead of the employee? How's business? How's the baby? (Maternity leave? I didn't know! Congrats!!) I bet you are super busy, so I can't blame you for not posting.


But...
I miss reading your thoughts. I hope all is well and that you'll have time to write again soon.

Anonymous said...

So glad you're back - and I love espresso.

Unknown said...

That sounds awesome! Best of luck to you.

Anonymous said...

Uh, Brat, you're not Howard Schultz. He wasn't the one who started the store from the bean up.

You're an Alfred Peet. You're the visionary with the heart of beans. Your lungs are coated with ground coffee and you can get a contact caffeine buzz from standing over a burr grinder.

That man is a profit-maker. There's no soul in that.