Lisa Vaccarello, Store Manager
I took my first job as a barista to earn some cash in high school, and later, in college. I attended Columbia College in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood where I majored in Theatre Directing. Early mornings working at the local café, a full-time course load, and late-night rehearsals meant coffee was necessary for survival, and luckily, I got it free at work!

By 2008, I had poured coffee in cafés all over the city, and had seen the human connections that grow thanks to this one simple, delicious drink. I knew I wanted to continue to be a part of the coffee community, and decided to take the plunge and interview for the store manager position that had opened at my café. I got the job, and for the next two years, ran a vibrant shop in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

By the summer of 2009, I had saved up some money and booked a trip to Guatemala. I enthused with my customers about my approaching vacation. I planned to visit large coffee plantations in Antigua and small co-ops in Lago de Atitlan, as well as go zip-lining, hike volcanoes, and explore a different country and culture. The response from my customers was positive, but usually followed by the same question:

“Is this a vacation, or is it for work?”

“Business or pleasure?”

The answer is, “both.” Why does it have to be one or the other, I asked myself. Why can’t we enjoy what we do for a living? That very sentiment is what brought me to Stone Creek Coffee, with a group of people who work hard and find their jobs rewarding. Whether it’s an espresso buzz in Rome, a French press in Central America, a cupping session in Long Beach, or a relaxing cup on the patio in Whitefish Bay, coffee will always fuel my adventures.