Women of Blue Bottle
Our Team Members
In celebration of International Women’s Day, with intersectionality as our guide, we’re celebrating the women of Blue Bottle. So many inspiring, multidimensional women from all over the globe help make this company more than just a place to find your favorite coffee. Here are just a few of their stories.
“I am a very proud mother of five very amazing children and two adorable grandsons. The thing that brings me joy is a houseful of laughter and all of my family around one big table enjoying a meal with one another. I never take for granted how lucky I am to have my family healthy and close by.
I wanted to raise strong, independent, and educated individuals who believed they could do anything they put their minds to. I am inspired by too many women to list from my past and now. From women who walk miles with a baby on their back to provide for their families, to the women on the front line in our hospitals during a pandemic, to women making history such as our new Vice President Kamala Harris. Little bits and pieces of them all inspire me because they don’t take NO for an answer, they provide for their families and communities, and they make change happen.” —Cerina Quarello, Area Leader, East Bay
“I’m extremely passionate about my community and mentoring youth in the Black and brown communities I grew up in. Being able to be a positive role model motivates me to get out of bed every morning. I genuinely love making connections with people and getting to know others. I make a conscious effort to brighten someone's day or get to know them a little more. It's important to me to learn from and learn about others.
Also, I have a deep-rooted connection to music and art. I create dolls, pillows, paint, and draw.
I have a very large record collection ranging from New York hardcore, jazz and old-school hip-hop.” —Juanita Vasquez, Cafe Leader, New York
“I’m from the Bronx, New York. I say it proudly because it is a cultural melting pot and contributes to my understanding and empathy. I am a proud mother of the coolest kid around, Geneiva.
I get joy from encouraging people and helping them find their voice. I know what it’s like to feel less than and unworthy. So I’ve made it my business to always encourage those around me to follow their gut and to advocate for themselves.
What motivates me is knowing that I am actively creating a life for my daughter and I to enjoy. I will not be a cautionary tale. It excites me that she gets a front-row seat to my mistakes, my success, and the many things I’ve overcome. She will know that she CAN because I WILL. I get to mold a powerful human being, and she gets to see her mother rise and do exceedingly well.
I am continuously inspired by the author and Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison. She achieved great success while being a single mother, author, revolutionary, and editor-in-chief. She had to start from scratch, as I do. She is a woman of power, poise, and excellence.” —Kayla Michelle Walker, Lead Barista, Morningside
“Born and brought up in India, I was the first woman to graduate from an engineering college and achieve financial independence in the family! My parents focused on education and supported me, but unlike my brother, they never had any BIG career aspirations for me, which bothered me. Looking back, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I learned to advocate for my dreams early on and ended up on a path that no one had imagined (including me!). “—Aditi Jain, Senior Director of Global E-Commerce
“Born and raised in Los Angeles, I fell hard and fast in love with professional baking in my early twenties. I left a career working in the toy industry to work alongside my culinary mentors, Amy Pressman and Nancy Silverton.
My family taught me to love food and I spent much of my childhood baking side by side with my grandmother.
I have been lucky to work closely with many celebrated L.A. chefs and I cherish my L.A. restaurant family. I judge pie contests, host charity bake sales, and I am known to incorporate savory flavors like thyme and tahini into my baking, allowing me to pay tribute to my Armenian heritage.
At Blue Bottle, I create our menus! I develop recipes, I taste coffee, and I work on culinary pairings. I create new beverages. I anticipate needs and create foods that will surprise and delight our guests. I work with our great kitchen teams and local bakery partners to create special and delicious moments.” —Hourie Sahakian, Culinary and GTM Director
“What gives me great joy? The taste of that first homegrown tomato after a summer readily toiling away in the garden. The playful humanity of an Agnès Varda doc. The virtuosity and expansiveness of Alice Coltrane.
I recently finished a biography of Lorraine Hansberry and am in complete admiration of her life and work. I had already held her up as a queer/Black Civil Rights icon, but delving into the radicality of her politics and her deep commitment to humanity made be realize just how important a voice she was (and still is!).” —Krystine Summers, New York Roaster
“I was born and raised in Tokyo, but I always wanted to live by the beach. I spent a year living in Long Beach, California, where I fell in love with bikes and bike culture. Even though no one has been traveling far from home lately, I’ve really enjoyed grabbing my bike and rediscovering my hometown.
What motivates me? Every day is a new chance to grow, even if just a little bit! I have been practicing hand-drip coffee every day at home for months, and it makes me happy every time I notice the taste getting a bit better.” —Megumi Yoshida, PR Manager, Japan
I was born and raised in New York and I've lived here my whole life. Before I attended culinary school, I got my bachelor’s in International Business. I am trained in classical French pastry and I even had the opportunity to live and work at a patisserie in France. Even though working in a kitchen is a profession for me, it is also a hobby. I enjoy testing new recipes and honing my skills. It gives me so much joy to share these items with my friends, family, and neighbors. More recently, I have found so much joy in making sourdough bread.
There are so many strong women in my family that I am incredibly grateful for. Specifically mis Abuelas, these two women inspire me every day. They both came to New York from Puerto Rico, and both were proud to be hard professional workers and strong mothers. At a young age they instilled in me how important it is to be independent and strong, both at work and in life. —Gabriela Rosario, Culinary Leader, New York
“I am a proud Puerto Rican, love everything about my island and culture.
I find nature magical and feel most at home when I am outdoors, any type of nature really—beach, woods, mountains, etc.
I can ignore the whole world with a good book for hours.
Hope is a big motivating factor in my life. Despite all that has happened in the world or in my life, I remain hopeful for a better tomorrow.
I am a published poet and wish to get back into writing.
Dancing is my favorite form of therapy.
I am not inspired by one woman, but rather all women. My grandmother and mother have shown me what grace and dignity look like in being a woman, and my friends have shown me the bravery it takes to be a woman.
Make no mistake about it, we are powerful, infinitely capable, and phenomenal. ¡Palante mujeres, siempre palante!” —Nicole Samara, Learning and Development Partner, New York
I started at Blue Bottle as the PR and HR manager for Blue Bottle Japan. I never thought of becoming a leader of a company in my life. I loved doing PR and marketing because I could help create fans for the brand. Blue Bottle gave me the opportunity to grow beyond PR to where I am today.
I have such deep respect for baristas. In my role, I am behind the scenes, but every day, they are interacting with guests and making coffee better than I ever could. Visiting the cafes always brings a smile to my face. —Saki Igawa, Chief Brand Officer
“In what was originally going to be a part-time job to get me through a biology degree, I accidentally found my place in the coffee industry. I’ve worked in coffee for over 16 years, starting as a barista and later becoming a coffee equipment technician here at Blue Bottle over a decade ago. I now work in a more innovative, and less reactionary role with coffee equipment. My work in coffee allows me to keep learning and asking ‘why’ while drinking great coffee.
I love solving mechanical problems and fixing things, both at and away from work. Thinking about all the various interactions between humans, machinery and the environment and how each influences the other is fascinating and offers insight to the best solution. I also like pushing myself by trying new things but always having a few backup plans for when things don't go as expected. I try not to get myself into too much trouble when attempting new things but accepting that getting into and out of trouble is just another way to learn, and perhaps more empowering is key. Becoming physically strong as a strength athlete and being well fueled by eating delicious food is something else I find very rewarding. Also, growing plants (mostly edible) and appreciating the impressive, awe-striking level of details in all things—I'll be up on a mountain able to enjoy the spectacular view, but my focus will always drift to the earth, leaves, moss, and their many tiny inhabitants.
Ilana and Abbi in Broad City and Phoebe Waller-Bridge's character Fleabag inspire me. Their gritty realness, ability to be open and making light of regular awkward life situations we all face inspire me to be more accepting of my weird self. Generally, people being comfortable being their true selves, whether they fit in or break the mold is awesome. I am hopeful for a future where each person can exist how they choose to without being expected to fit or fill any expectations, with differences between each person being respected and understood but not defining points.” —Erica Green, Coffee Equipment Innovation Manager
Mi nombre es Isela Martínez y nací en Michoacán México, crecí y viví en zitácuaro. Tuve una infancia muy bonita en la que corría y jugaba por el campo era libertad absoluta. Mi adolescencia pues podría decir que terminó temprano, pues muy joven a los 17 años para ser exactos. Pues me tuve que casar y tuve a mi primer hija y a los 20 tuve a mi hijo y aunque fue cuando era joven no me arrepiento de haberlos tenido. En estos momentos yo puedo decir que me encuentro muy bien. Hace 11 años emigre de mi país. Aunque hay unos días que extraño mi lugar de nacimiento pero sé que estoy mejor aquí en los Estados Unidos. En México sufrí económicamente más porque tenía a dos hijos pequeños. Durante 5 años me enfrenté a la vida sola con dos niños. Era una joven sin experiencia de trabajo, y mi esposo tuvo que emigrar a los Estados Unidos para buscar un mejor futuro para su familia. Mis hijos son mi alegría mi motivación día día para salir a trabajar y guiarlos por un buen camino y que ellos estudien y sean personas de bien. Una de las mujeres que yo más admiro es a mi madre. Ella es una mujer trabajadora que día a día salía y aún sale a trabajar para salir adelante . Mi madre nos enseñó a mis hermanos y a mi como trabajar, a ser responsables, y más que nada respetuosos. Yo estoy muy orgullosa y agradecida con todo lo que ella a echo por mi y por guiarme en un buen camino. Yo tengo una familia muy linda con la que soy muy feliz. Soy feliz porque no apagó la luz de nadie para encender la mía, simplemente oró a Dios día a día para que mis sueños se cumplan sin tener que lastimar a alguien. Isela Martinez
English translation
My name is Isela and I was born in Michoacán, Mexico. I grew up and lived in Zitácuaro. I had a very nice childhood—running and playing in the fields with absolute freedom. I could say my adolescence was cut short, at 17 years old to be exact. I had to get married and had my first child, my daughter, and at 20 years old I had my boy. Although I was young, I don't ever regret having them. Right now I can say I am doing well; 11 years ago I migrated from my country, and although there are days where I miss my place of birth, I know I am better off here in the USA. I suffered financially in Mexico, especially with two kids. My husband had to migrate to the USA to seek a better future for his family, and for 5 years, being a young woman with no work experience, I faced life alone with my two kids. My kids are my joy and my daily motivation to go out and work while guiding them through a good path where they can study and become good people.
One of the women that I admire the most is my mother. She is a hardworking woman who would go out— and still goes out—day in and day out to work and get ahead. My mother taught me and my siblings how to work hard, to be responsible, but above all to be respectful. I am extremely grateful and proud for everything she has done for me, for guiding me through a good path.
I have a good family in which I am very happy. I am happy because I don't turn anyone's light off to turn on my own. I simply pray to God, every day, for my dreams to come true without hurting anyone.
—Isela Martinez, Kitchen Lead, W.C. Morse
Tell us about you: I live in Sacramento and it's great.
What is something that gives you joy? Having a clean house brings me joy.
What motivates you to get out of bed each morning? There is very little traffic at that time of the morning. Potentially seeing a full moon every month is amazing.
What woman inspires you and why? Kamala Harris because she is making history.
Darcy Wells, Roaster, West Sacramento
I am originally from Egypt and Sudan. I speak two languages and three different dialects.
Solving problems makes me very happy. I love music in all different languages. I also love to sing and I love to dance!
My mom motivates me to get out of bed every day. I want to make her happy!
The architect Zaha Hadid inspires me. She has created more than 950 projects in 44 countries. She was chosen as the fourth most powerful woman in the world in 2010. She was ranked as the most powerful engineer in the world. She is one of the first women to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is like the Nobel Prize for Engineering.
What brings me joy? When all of my friends and my family are happy. Also, oat milk Gibraltars.
Esraa Madani, Barista, W.C. Morse