Lee here, and I just got back from an exhilarating four days in Chicago where I got to spend a lot of time with our assistant manager there, Ruby. We went to a Wedding Expo in Schaumberg, did some marketing research at the hotels downtown, and had dinner with the Chicago team. 

During those four days, we got to do a lot of talking. I want to go ahead and take a moment to share a conversation we had. My hope is that you get to learn something about Ruby like I did. 

LM: Tell us a little bit about your coffee timeline... What is your relationship to coffee now?

RT: I started drinking coffee in high school. In the mornings my mom would brew up a pot on her stovetop percolator and we would both fill our thermoses for the day. She said, if I can drink it black, then I can drink it, so I learned to appreciate a simple cup of black coffee. 

When I started college, I worked as a barista at Emerald City coffee on Wilson Ave, where I learned the true meaning of people first and coffee second. I was never properly trained as a barista there, but I enjoyed hearing stories from the regulars and making connections with all my fellow coworkers. 

When the pandemic started, my job at Emerald City disappeared and I took a break from coffee. I gained proper training in coffee as a barista about a year later with Colectivo Coffee, where I learned proper techniques for steaming and pouring milk as well as dialing in espresso. 

Now, I love serving coffee with Event Espresso. I served many black coffee drinkers their first latte, and explained the difference between a latte and a cappuccino countless times. On my days off, there's still nothing better to me than sharing a pot of coffee with my mom.

LM: Tell us about your relationship to Event Espresso, how did your EE journey begin?

RT: I began working with Event Espresso shortly after I started working with Colectivo. I had been managing my dads moving company, Starving Artist Movers, for about a year, and one of my coworkers, Nick, heard that I started working in coffee again. 

Nick mentioned that Event Espresso was looking for new baristas and I jumped at the opportunity. That was about 4 years ago, and I have since left the coffee shop life favoring the flexibility and adventure of bringing the coffee shop to different events and locations 

LM: What is your role with Event Espresso?

RT: I am the assistant manager in Chicago

LM:  What do you feel your strengths are when it comes to working an event?

RT: I thrive in busy environments and can easily adapt to unexpected changes and obstacles. My biggest strengths at events is working with the client to understand their expectations and make sure they are satisfied with the service as well as pumping out latte art and keeping the presentation and quality consistent no matter how busy or slow the event may be.

LM: Can you share with us a memorable event? 

RT: One memorable event was the snacks trade show at the McCormick place. It was in this massive open space, with every snack imaginable, probably hundreds of booths there from candy to crackers to beef jerky. There was every size of company there as well, from the major snack brands to small labels I’d never heard of. I worked this 2 day event with my brother, Izadorius, and the absurd size of the event as well as the creative array of snacks have us referencing the event to this day. 

LM: What kind of food do you like?

RT: Living in Chicago I have access to every type of food imaginable, I love trying new food and restaurants around the city, and I love trying new recipes at home as well. One of my favorite comfort foods is Thai food, and my favorite thing to get after a long day of work is a burrito.

LM: What are some hobbies, passions, and interests of yours?

RT: I have always loved food, before working with Event Espresso, I worked as a line cook and as a pastry chef for some time. Now I just cook for fun and for loved ones, but I still love getting creative in the kitchen. 

LM: When you are not working, what can we find you doing?

RT: I love volunteering with local forest preserves and spending my summers outdoors along the lakefront. Otherwise, I love trying out local restaurants and coffee shops around Chicago. In the winter, I love spending my days off at the Garfield Park Conservatory, soaking in the warmth and greenery and hanging out with the turtles.

These conversations will be a reoccurring blog series on our website so you can get to learn more about the people that make your events so special.