Interview: Café Grumpy co-founder Caroline Bell

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How are you able to maintain balance in your life, if you’re even able to?

I don’t think that’s possible running a small business. I’m sure some people can, but I don’t know. You do the best you can, but you’re thinking about it all day long. And if you stop thinking about it, your phone’s going to ring or somebody’s going to text you. Something’s leaky, or something’s stuck. I think you just have to have that inner calm and think big picture and try to do what you can.

Is there a typical day for you?

I get up, check my e-mail, go on Twitter. Our Park Slope store is really close to our house, so I go there and have coffee. Usually I go to Greenpoint, because I have an online store, and I do all the shipments. It’s a lot of e-mails, whatever needs to get done.

Describe a typical coffee consumption day for you, from when you wake up.

I usually start with a cappuccino. If I’m going on the subway, I’ll also take a cup of brewed coffee to go. Then maybe have an Americano later in the day, or another cup of brewed coffee, but that’s pretty much it. I sometimes forget I can get coffee whenever I want it.

Do you ever drink coffee anywhere else?

No, I don’t drink out that much. At home. I drink coffee at home.

What’s your preferred brewing method at home?

If I’m making it, I usually make a French press. If my husband Chris makes it, he usually uses a Chemex with a cone. Whoever’s feeling motivated to grind, because we just have a hand grinder.

Do you decide what music plays in the bars too?

No. Whoever’s working, so you can hear a wide range of styles. Sometimes, I just let it go.

As a company, what are the markers for success going forward? How would you like to see Café Grumpy evolve over the next few years?

I think having things more streamlined and run more smoothly, almost as if each store was like a franchise, and have really good systems in place…When we started, we wanted something people could identify with, and no matter how they drink their coffee or what background they have, “Okay, this is a place I feel welcome.” I would like to have the brand symbolizing more than just coffee, but the whole experience. That’s kind of abstract, so streamlining the stores and having brand recognition.

Did you say that you don’t drink much espresso?

I actually prefer brewed coffee. I mean I drink it when we’re changing blends and I have to because it’s just part of the job. We do cuppings and I’ll drink more coffee throughout the day, but day-to-day, I’m not going to come in and ask for a shot of espresso unless I have a migraine.

Does that help with migraines?

It helps me.

Why do you prefer brewed coffee over espresso?

I prefer to sit with a drink for awhile. I feel like coffee changes as it cools. It gets sweeter and to me it’s more of an experience that espresso. Espresso’s too much of a quick coffee drink for me. I like to linger over my coffee.

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Joshua Lurie

Joshua Lurie founded FoodGPS in 2005. Read about him here.

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[…] Bell, owner and founder of our overall favorite local roaster and coffee shop chainlet Cafe Grumpy, interviewed by Joshua Lurie of Food […]

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