– Can you please introduce yourself in a few words.

Born in Germany. Grew up in New Jersey. Co-Founder/CEO Cafe Grumpy. Q Grader.

– When did Grumpy open and what’s the story behind?

2005 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. My husband and I would ride our bikes around the city searching for good coffee and couldn’t find any!

– What’s your specialty and what makes you different?
We take coffee seriously but not ourselves.

– What was your first coffee experience?
In highschool, my friends and I would hang out at diners (in New Jersey) for hours, talking over endless cups of diner coffee.

– What was your best coffee experience?
Every morning is my best coffee experience when I have my first cup of coffee. Sometimes I go to sleep looking forward to the coffee I will drink in the morning.

– Do you prepare coffee at home ? If yes, what method do you use?

At home, I use a french press or Chemex.  (But I live one block away from one of our cafes so I usually just go there!)

– How do you like your coffee? Black, sugar and milk, iced, vietnamese style,…?

In the morning, I start with a cappuccino if I am having it to stay or a brewed coffee (black) if I’m heading to the subway.

– How would you qualify yourself as coffee drinker (occasional, heavy, addict…)?

I drink at least three cups a day but taste more because of my job.

– Have you always been into the coffee industry? If not, what was your previous job?

Previously I worked in restaurants, galleries, offices… I’m thankful to work in coffee because there is always good coffee to drink at work!

– Do you have another passion or a hobby besides coffee?
Photography

– What other place would you recommend, anywhere in the world?
I was impressed by the coffee shops in Berlin last time I was there (briefly).  Also, I travel with our coffee buyer once a year and have loved our trips to Honduras especially Benjamin Paz’s coffee shop El Dorao.

– What is/are your favorite website(s) to get information about coffee?
I love receiving newsletters from Roast Magazine and Coffee Talk. I also check Twitter for any interesting leads.

– What would you say to people who don’t know much about coffee?
Don’t be afraid to ask your barista questions. Coffee shops shouldn’t be intimidating, they should be a place people can learn about coffee and enjoy a well-prepared beverage.

Published by

Thomas

Thomas Wyngaard est fondateur de OK Coffee et un des rares experts en Café de Spécialité en Belgique francophone. Il est consultant indépendant, enseignant (certifié par la Specialty Coffee Association de janvier 2018 à avril 2021), tour-ist et broadcaster. Après avoir été formé en France, en Pologne et en Estonie, il fait ses armes chez les meilleurs en Belgique, pour ensuite migrer pendant presque 2 ans à New York où il a officié comme conseiller et formateur. Au-delà de la formation sur les métiers du café, il collabore avec des torréfactions belges engagées sur la reconnaissance du café de spécialité, œuvrant ainsi à un monde meilleur “one bean at a time”.