IT ALL STARTED WITH A MISPRONUNCIATION.
As a kid, I couldn’t say the word “drink” correctly—I’d say “frink” instead. Little did my parents know, that small slip would one day become the name of my coffee business.
Working as a barista at Starbucks in 2014, I knew that I loved coffee but didn’t know that the passion would grow into this. After I graduated from grad school in 2018, I gained my first big-girl job as a creative director in Harlem. I knew that I missed making coffee so I came up with the idea of creating drink tutorials to share my passion with my followers—but it wasn’t enough. In December 2022, I asked my older sister/personal baker, Tara, her thoughts on hosting a coffee gathering at our house and she was down. So we curated a holiday food/drink menu and invited over a few of our friends
As a freelance graphic designer and photographer, I’ve spent a lot of my time at home, working solo. Although it has its benefits, I wasn’t afraid to admit that it became lonely at times.
Although I don’t have the brick and mortar (yet), my goal through Frinks Coffee is to collaborate with other creatives and, host pop-ups and events such as weddings, school events—you name it. This won’t just be co-working space, however, if you just want to drop in for a quick cup of coffee or hang out with friends, this space is also for you.
If you’d like to support the vision, it’s greatly appreciated. Click the button below to view our kickstarter campaign.
Working at Starbucks (2014–2016)
When I worked at Starbucks and became a Coffee Master, I had no idea how much my passion for coffee would grow. I just knew I loved the environment, the drinks, and the way coffee brought people together.
2019–2021
At the time, I was working full-time as a creative director for a church in Harlem. I loved the work, but as my passion for coffee deepened, I started to feel like I didn’t have enough time to explore it the way I wanted to. I began creating and posting coffee content, but I knew I was craving something more hands-on.
December 2022
That December, I had an idea—what if I hosted a small tasting with friends? I asked my sister Tara to bake, and we shared the experience on social media. The response was better than I expected, and it encouraged us to do it again.
June 2023
A friend of ours offered her apartment in Harlem for the next pop-up since most of our friends were still in the area. It was invite-only, but once I shared a recap video online, it started to gain traction. That’s when I started wondering what it might look like to keep building this vision.
November 2023
Looking for a larger space, I connected with someone from church who offered her office. Around the same time, the owners of the coffee shop she worked at offered their space for a future pop-up. Things were starting to align in a new way.
March 2024
I hosted my fourth pop-up in my hometown of New Rochelle, right before moving back to Florida—where I was raised.
February 2025
After taking a year-long break, I was ready to dive back in. I hosted a taste-testing event at my best friend’s house, just to get my hands back in it and reconnect with what I loved about serving coffee.
Now living in Tampa, Florida, I’m ready to grow Frinks Coffee into something more than an occasional pop-up. The dream is to open a brick-and-mortar café where people can connect, recharge, and feel at home.
As a freelance creative (graphic designer and photographer), I know what it’s like to work solo. In 2020, I was working from home, and while I enjoyed the flexibility, I’d be lying if I said the loneliness didn’t creep in. With Frinks, I hope to create a space where freelancers, creatives, and anyone who simply wants to enjoy a good cup of coffee can walk in and feel seen, welcomed, and inspired.