Sawyer: I graduated from Temple University in 2016, with a degree in Kinesiology and the intention to pursue a career in pediatric physical therapy. However, the months immediately following the end of my college career were very tumultuous, and I found myself in no kind of position to pursue an extended form of higher education. Not knowing where exactly to turn, I followed my strongest hobby and passion at the time, which was coffee! I started out in a very humble position, primarily doing demos at grocery stores and back of house packaging work for the wholesale side of a coffee business in the suburbs. From there, I slowly built out more experience, trying on as many hats in the industry as I could. The final seal for me was when I took a position at Function Coffee Labs in its early days, an experience that cemented for me that my desire to care for others, build community, and share passions was just as, if not more, possible in coffee as it was in physical therapy.‍

Chaereen: I originally moved to Philly to study psychology at Penn. After graduating, I had absolutely no idea what to do with myself! What I did know, though, was my passion for the arts, my deep affinity for the city I was in, and an itch to learn the ins and outs of coffee-making—a culture I had grown very fond of. I decided that it was now or never. I signed a lease, DMed Function Coffee Labs after finding their Instagram post about hiring part-time baristas, and was miraculously given a chance despite my lack of industry knowledge or experience. Function is where I first met Sawyer and where I also met my former manager, who ended up hiring me as a designer at the retail startup she was at. That’s how I kick-started my creative career.‍

S: I don't make it as often as I'd like, but Her Place is an absolute gift to have in Philadelphia, and it remains as one of the best meals I've had here. Amanda's ability to build both a meal and an atmosphere remains unrivaled. (Also Lorenzo and Sons, but that opinion would get me crucified by most people I know.)

C: Korean cuisine in LA is unbeatable. MDK Noodles in Koreatown is one of my family’s go-to casual dine-in spots. My parents and I visit every so often for their knife cut noodles, cold soybean noodles, and pork dumplings. We also think their kimchi is some of the best in the city. I love trying foods that are nostalgic for my parents—it’s another avenue through which I can get to know them better.

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S: My favorite hobbies certainly shift from season to season, and while reading, TTRPGs, and slacklining will always be near the top, miniature painting has been my primary use of downtime recently. I have relatively severe ADHD, so my mind’s default state is one of racing down every available path of thought as quickly as possible. Painting has consistently pulled me out of that into a state of mindfulness and internal quiet, while also acting as a means of artistic expression and skill development.

C: Acrylic painting, watching films at the theater, flower arranging, and taking long walks without a destination. When I want to fully rest and recharge, I tend to immerse myself in activities and spaces where I can be alone, silent, and independent from my phone and computer.

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S: This is a memory I'd managed to suppress until right now, but it was the 2007 album “Captiva” by Falling Up. The opening track, listened to on peeling headphones at Providence Bookstore, was the perfect expression of the adolescent angst of the early aughts to reel me in. It was 4x the cost of my weekly allowance and quite a significant investment at the time.

C: Believe it or not, the High School Musical 2 Original Soundtrack CD. I was gifted a Hello Kitty CD boombox in elementary school and christened it with my favorite opening number from my favorite movie as a ten-year-old.

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S: It is possible to find something to genuinely compliment about every single person you see in a day. In my early days of working behind the bar in a shop, I spent eight months trying this daily with every single individual who walked through the door, and never once was I unable to find something to point out or praise. It is truly so easy to build community if you are willing to open the door through vulnerability and kindness. Other than that, all I have to say is that most cranes in a city are easily accessible to climb before electricity and plumbing are run in a building.

C: I’m fond of learning languages. I grew up speaking Korean at home, studied Spanish for six years, and enrolled in a semester abroad in Tokyo to learn Japanese as well. I’ve come to understand that there are hundreds of thousands of words in other languages that aren’t directly translatable in English, because these words describe concepts and values that might not actually exist in cultures where English is the native language. For example, the Japanese word “ikigai” means a reason for being that is in everyone—a reason to jump out of bed every morning, a reason that makes life worthwhile. One English word can't encapsulate that sentiment. It’s said that there might be a connection between the existence of this concept in the Japanese language and the fact that certain groups in Japan have the longest life expectancies in the world. More words on my mind: “fjaka” in Croatian means the sweetness of doing nothing, while “fika” in Swedish refers to a coffee break or a moment to slow down and appreciate the good things in life.

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