Ruby Xu moved to Australia as a seventeen-year-old and has only lived in New Zealand for a decade. When she started working at a Melba Group cafe, little did she know that she would eventually open her coffee shop, Lieutenant Coffee Bar & Eatery, in Auckland’s Commercial Bay with Melba.
“Coffee was not in my culture until recent years. I wanted to learn about the coffee culture, and the more I got into it, the deeper I fell in love with all the processes that go into making the perfect cup,” said Xu.
“Making coffee looked easy, but it requires multi-tasking and a lot of skill and knowledge. I am happy to see customers enjoy their experience and return the next day.”
Xu loves the team at Lieutenant, who now seem like family, considering how much time they spend together. Their strong, unique and supportive bond makes work fun and easy.
Another thing she loves is a small flat white with a double shot of Lieutenant blend, and she recommends their cold brew, a big seller on warm days, with a clean and beautifully rounded flavour. This is due to the single-origin beans they source from the Popayan Reserve in Columbia and the simple extraction process.
She believes great coffee is defined by its taste and balance, whether a custom blend or a single origin. The texture of the milk is also essential.
On her days off, Xu enjoys her alone time, spending it cooking, listening to music or reading a book.
