Originally from Vietnam, Mike Nguyen leads the front-of-house team at Smith the Grocer Cafe, where he is also a specialist barista.
Located in the heart of The Old Bank Arcade in Wellington, Smith the Grocer Cafe has been an integral part of Lambton Quay for nearly two decades. Its spacious setting has made it an ideal setting for customers to dine at all hours of the day.
Nguyen has called New Zealand home for the past five years, during which time he has worked in cafes across the country. His main passions in life are coffee, customer service and teamwork, all of which have been driving forces behind his career. He said he thrives in fast-paced environments, which is perfect for the role of a barista.
“Smiths is a great place where we offer a blend of excellent Kiwi hospitality, delicious food, and outstanding coffee. It’s the combination of these elements that keep me motivated and excited about my work every day,” he said.
During an earlier role on Queen Street in Auckland, Nguyen became increasingly overwhelmed with the long queues, fast-moving kitchen, and most importantly, the language barrier. He said New Zealand’s coffee culture was also vastly different to what he was used to in Vietnam.
His manager at the time told him that no matter how hectic things could get, it was important to treat every customer with respect and kindness. He said this simple but powerful lesson has shaped the way he has approached work every day since. For Nguyen, it’s not just about making great coffee, it is about creating a positive experience for every customer. He has encouraged his team to also bring this mindset to their roles.
Signature beverages at Smith the Grocer Cafe include traditional crowd favourites like flat whites and lattes, along with trending options such as matcha lattes, turmeric lattes and iced lattes. The cafe uses an average of 220 kgs of coffee beans each month, Which equates to a lot of well-caffeinated and happy customers.
