Where do you find inspiration? Or do you make your own?
Music is my main source of inspiration. I love words. Always have and always will. Songwriters are some of my favorite types of people. Sometimes, I challenge myself with restrictions or being very specific on a POV. I’m always trying new ways to see the world and make things from what’s around me.

When did you start dreaming up Monday Coffee? How has it grown since your 2020 launch?
The idea of working in coffee started in 2018, but early 2020 was when we started bringing the idea to life. Since our launch in October 2020, we’ve completed three residencies around Chicago. We have an outpost where folks can get the Monday cafe experience, and most recently I became a coffee roaster. Back in 2018, I did not see this when I thought about working in coffee, but this is much better than what I thought.

What is your favorite part of the coffee roasting process? Could you walk us through a roasting day for you?
My favorite part of the roasting process is before the coffee is roasted. The roasting process is relatively easy–in physical terms. After I drop the coffee, I’m waiting for popcorn. However, the testing and dreaming of the profile is where the real roasting happens–in my opinion. It’s where the creativity lives. Creativity is a part of who I am. So, I daydream about what experience I want people to have with the roast. I think about how other roasters would roast it. I just started asking alot of questions to ensure I knew my destination. The “average” roasting time is about 7-10 minutes, depending on your destination for that bean. Because, not all beans respond the same way to heat.