Meet Molly!
Pronouns: She/Her
What’s your position at Ritual?
Cafe Manager, Napa
How long have you been working in coffee?
I’ve been working in coffee for 3 years now, with a break in the middle.
What is your favorite thing about working at Ritual?
Honestly, my favorite thing about Ritual is the excitement around coffee. I feel like it’s a genuine excitement, and baristas at our shop here in Napa want to share that excitement with the people who we’re serving. It’s a really special thing to be able to geek out about the coffee world among other coffee nerds.
What’s your favorite drink?
That’s such a hard question! I used to work with someone who would say, “Would you pick a favorite child?” It all depends; when I need coffee fast, I go with a Gibraltar. When I want a bigger drink I can really savor, I love to have a pour over (my favorite is the Kambarari, a Kenyan coffee, right now!). But when it’s hot out, we also have Nitro Cold Brew at our cafe that really hits the spot.
What’s your favorite coffee shop when you’re out of the Bay Area?
Wow, It’s been so long since I’ve travelled! I think my favorite coffee shop to sneak away to is actually Retrograde, over in Sebastopol. Does that count? They roast all the coffee themselves, and it’s one of the only places I have had a shot of espresso and wanted another right away!
Any brewing technique tips or secrets?
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Coffee is a science, but it isn’t an exact science, so there is a lot of room for creativity.
What’s your first coffee memory?
My first memory of really great coffee was actually up here at Ritual Napa. 10 years ago, as a senior in high school, I would come to Ritual and have cappuccinos with my mom as a treat on weekends. When I first started drinking coffee I would have a little sugar in the bottom, but not stir it, so that the last sip was sweet. I was also VERY lucky to be able to work alongside one of the baristas that made that coffee for me 10 years ago.
The best coffee you’ve ever had?
So, I served in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, and I was making pretty mediocre coffee for months on end. Every once in a while, we would venture into the biggest city near us (four hours by bus) and get breakfast and coffee at the cafe there (Neema Crafts and Cafe!). It was a simple French press but it was all mine, and I didn’t have to make it myself. Those cups of coffee on our little trips to town were some of the best cups I ever had. Tanzanian coffee IN Tanzania. If anyone is lucky enough to go there, check it out!
What are your non-coffee interests?
I’m a big nerd. I like playing video games and table top games with my partner. I love singing, much to the dismay of some of my coworkers, who actually graciously gave me a karaoke machine for my birthday and said, “Stop singing at work.” My go-to karaoke song is “Believe” by Cher. If you see me on the floor, feel free to tell me yours!
Anything Else?
Before working in coffee beans, I sold heirloom beans!
