Coffee is a constant in Jessica’s life. She loves unique roasts, particularly the exotic blends, and she’s a purist, meaning no cream or sugar.
“I love the flavor of coffee,” Jessica says. “And I drink hot coffee, even if it’s the middle of summer.”
Recently, she visited with a client at a Vietnamese coffee shop, where she tasted her first cup of cà phê đá. Hot water is added to a filter filled with ground coffee, which slowly drips into a cup. Then the cup of hot coffee is poured into a glass with ice and sweetened condensed milk and stirred.
“I loved it!” Jessica said. “It was thick and rich, and you could taste the espresso. And it wasn’t too sweet, which I was afraid of. I’ve tried to re-create it five times, but haven’t been able to make it taste right.”
Repairing and restoring old furniture is a hobby of hers, a passion stoked in her by her father.
“I grew up with my father in his workshop, fixing furniture,” Jessica says. “He was self-employed, and I loved staining/painting wood any chance I got. It was time that I got dad to myself. To this day, I prefer to repair rather than replace.”
Jessica has instilled a passion for crafting in her own four children.
“They all have different interests,” she says, “but we use it as bonding time.”
Naturally, Jessica’s clients regularly receive custom-made gifts, such as handmade signs or mugs with inspirational quotes or images.
“I like to bring a personal touch,” she says. “To me, it’s not a transaction, it’s building a relationship.”