I’m feeling kind of nostalgic right now. I did something I waited 30 years to do; it was at this time last year I resigned from my safe, corporate job and did something I dreamt of doing since I discovered the wonderful flavor that is a cappuccino.

On Sept 4, 2018, Heartsleeves Coffee opened in Orange County and brought independent, craft coffee to Aliso Viejo.

I waited 30 years to have a coffeeshop and this was my magic day. 

Let me back up…

Brandi Kirschbaum is the brains, operations and creative genius behind Heartsleeves Coffee and I got the share her dream after a fateful meeting in San Diego. 

It all started when I, the reluctant business traveler, went to San Diego for a professional, corporate trainer conference.

Our love story is not the focus of this tale, but it does explain how we opened a craft coffeeshop in Orange County.

I’ll save the love story for another blog post.

Back to how Heartsleeves Coffee came to Aliso Viejo.

While in SD, I walked into Heartsleeves Coffee, met Brandi— instant chemistry— team saw the sparks ⚡️ and next thing you know she is closing the SD shop on a high note and moving up north to be with me. 

We got the opportunity of a lifetime and decided to take over a space in Aliso Viejo. 

We signed the paperwork and celebrated both my dream and hers of having a coffeeshop with someone they love.

We did a soft opening on September 4, 2018.

We shared our love of craft coffee.

Brandi was killing it with her amazing coffee cocktail like concoctions and I couldn’t have been more proud.

We were an awesome team and we learned that we can handle anything together. We had fun sharing craft coffee with Aliso, but we were both burning out with the hours we were keeping. It was time to walk away knowing we did something that hadn’t been done and we did it together. 

We opened our doors on September 4, 2018 but sadly we closed them a few short months afterwards. We weren’t defeated; we were pleased with our achievement: Heartsleeves Coffee brought independent, craft coffee to Aliso Viejo.

Here’s to doing something great babe. I know because we did this that we can do anything. 

Thanks for taking me on a ride through coffeeshop life.

Next stop…