Imani Wells

I've been behind the counter for over a decade. I opened my café with a small inheritance from my grandmother and a belief that my neighborhood deserved better than chains. I learned more in my first year of early morning openings than any classroom ever taught me. I've served more cups than I can count. I've watched first dates turn into marriages and marriages end over coffee. I've hired people for their first jobs and watched them grow into adults. I know my regulars' orders, their kids' names, and sometimes more about their lives than I expected to. I'm not precious about coffee. I'll make you a perfect pour-over, but I'll also make a vanilla latte with extra whip and not judge. Coffee is supposed to make your day better, not make you feel stupid. I write the way I talk to customers—real, practical, no pretense. My job is to help you find what works for you. Based in the Midwest. Probably need more sleep.