Photos - Customs Coffee & Vintage Coffee House: George Duchannes | Koffi: Yasin Chaudhry
KOFFI 71380 Hwy 111 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 760.340.2444 www.kofficoffee.com
E ST E B A N CA RTAG E N A CREDENTIALS: BARISTA, KOFFI
VINTAGE GOLF • Many of the clientele at Vintage Coffee are residents of PGA West. Kristin proudly pulls out her phone to show-off selfies of famous golfers standing with her holding a cup of coffee.
VINTAGE COFFEE HOUSE 49990 Jefferson St Indio, CA 92201 760.564.2407
K R I ST I N M AY CREDENTIALS: OWNER, VINTAGE COFFEE HOUSE Q: What makes your coffeehouse stand out? Kristin May: Personalized service. We know our customers by name. We know what they like, and many times have their coffee ready for them before they get out of the car. We do not have a big turn over of staff so everyone knows everyone. Q: How would you describe your atmosphere? KM: Homey and clean. I would compare it to the bar on the television program ‘Cheers.’ We have the same charm. Our customers call themselves grandma and grandpa to my three
children. We have college students who sit in here and do schoolwork all day long. It is a home away from home. Q: What is most fun and rewarding aspect of your job? KM: I am doing this because I am single mother. My sons wanted to work but they couldn’t get jobs that would work around their school and sports schedules. My daughter can come here after school and do her homework. I can teach her that she can do anything she wants to do. I can be with my kids. Q: What is your favorite drink on the menu and why?
KM: I am an Americano drinker because I can taste the hues and depth of the coffee. Americano coffee is espresso and steamed hot water. It keeps the coffee in its original flavor. Whenever I have coffee some place else I always have an Americano, that way I can compare the quality of our coffee. Q: Why did you name you coffeehouse Vintage Coffee? KM: Vintage Coffee was the name when I bought the place, but we do use an old, classic, vintage machine. Our coffee is hand pulled, hand pressed and hand poured vintage style.
BIG NAME • Sylvester Stallone was the first customer in the shop. NATIVE KNOWLEDGE • Vintage Coffee House is the unofficial coffeehouse for Coachella Fest. Located just a few miles from the polo grounds, Vintage Coffee averages 2,000 customers a day during the two weekends of the concert.
Q: How would you describe your atmosphere? Esteban Cartagena: Our atmosphere is very, very friendly and inviting. We are always making sure our customers are taken care of and make sure they have an amazing experience from the moment they walk in until the moment they walk out. Q: What is the most fun and rewarding part about your job? EC: Getting to know and interact with a good variety of people from our regular customers, my coworkers and visitors from all over. I want to mention that our regular customers have made a good impact in our Koffi family. We always appreciate your presence and the good energy you bring to the coffee family. I hope you know who you are. Q: How is your business involved in the community? EC: We support our communities in so many ways. In each of our locations we have an open community board for people
to post their ideas, upcoming events and gatherings. We have also been very consistent with our support of the many humanitarian organizations from cancer awareness to the AIDS Walk. Q: What inspires you? What are you most passionate about? EC: I have a lot of passion for learning and teaching. I enjoy taking different ideas and perfecting them and taking it to the next level. I am very passionate with whatever I create or do. There is always something to be learned from everybody I meet and that is one thing I like about my job. Q: How did you get into the industry? EC: Luckily, Koffi opened the doors for me the minute I decided to join the family. I think that speaks for how involved Koffi is with the community. As a good old Koffi friend said, ‘Teamwork makes the dream work,’ and that has been our motto at Koffi. LOCALE MAGAZINE 61