When Rhonez Hepi started her career at Point Chevalier's Corner Cafe, she was not really into coffee, enjoying its free time and social life. However, as time passed, she began loving the experience and the satisfaction she got when a simple cup of coffee helped turn a customer's frown upside down.
"You need to know how to create a perfect coffee, but not everything is perfect. I believe I was a people person when I started and knew who they were, what they liked and how they liked it. I had no interest in coffee, just as long I could make someone smile and be me."
Today, Hepi is married to the love of her life, with two cats, enjoying little things in life like watching anime or K-dramas and working at the Instagram famous Luna Bakehouse, yes, the Parisian-like place with the cruffins in Auckland.
"The interaction you have with customers when making their coffee and the little things that make them want to know more about the coffee industry. Coffee, to me, is relatable to everyday life, unpredictable," said Hepi.
What grew her interest even more, was when she visited a roastery and learned about all the science and machinery behind the perfect roast.
"It was when I saw my first green coffee bean before roasting that I was hooked. Then I wanted to know and understand how we could get all these notes and different blends from that one green coffee bean just by origin, roasting time, aging, etc."
Luna Bakehouse offers organic coffee from Kokako and the Mahana Blend and the most delicious croissant pastries created in different forms and filings. They also do a monthly special soft serve cruffins in exciting flavours.
Hepi loves the fun and appreciative nature of the diverse team at Luna Bakehouse, whose passion shows in the way they make their coffee. Her top favourite drinks to order are a double shot flat white with oat milk or iced matcha with vanilla syrup and Alpro coconut on the rocks.
She feels that coffee has become more tech-savvy, full of Hollywood theatrics that we have forgotten how one cup makes someone's day, an experience that becomes a memory.
