Staff Spotlight: Caitlin Ross
What is your favorite menu item?
My favorite item is a citrus matcha
How are you coping during this time?
I’ve been trying to go on walks on trails or the beach and learning tarot card readings
What is your favorite coffee at Snowy Owl?
My favorite coffee is the new Colombia
What have you been doing with your time?
I’ve been watching a lot of Netflix and working on theater on ice programs off ice in sneakers
Tell us a couple of interesting things/fun facts about you?
I’m a figure skater second in the world and first in the nation with my theater team in Boston, I like to draw and longboard and surf.
Staff Spotlight: Derek Jamieson
What is your favorite menu item?
Coffee wise: Nitro
Non coffee: iced oat milk sweet matcha
How are you coping during this time?
I’m coping well. I’m still working two jobs so I’m busy at least. Amazing to see so much compassion, so sad to see so much greed and selfishness
What is your favorite coffee we roast at Snowy Owl? Currently El Obraje
What have you been doing with your time?
Working and gardening with the family. We’re rebuilding our patio and cleaning up from the tornado in Chatham still.... prepping this years compost and garden beds etc.
Tell us a couple of interesting things/fun facts about you:
I clean my shoes everyday 🤷🏻♂️ and I can ride a unicycle
Staff Spotlight: Annie Quiñones
What is your favorite menu item and what is your favorite coffee at Snowy Owl?
A small cup is what I usually go for so that I don’t lose track of my coffee before it gets cold. Cortados are my favorite treat to have first thing in the morning with a croissant or in the middle of the day. A small pour over or a shared chemex will always be my go to. My current favorite coffees we have are our Honduras, Jaws and our Colombian coffee from El Obraje farm. I love being able to try our coffees we source from all over the world.
What customers do you miss seeing the most?
As I have not been in the cafe as much as I used to be, missing our customers is nothing new to me. I miss the warmth of our community and the kind faces that always greet me when I enter the cafe. I miss having chats with our customers about everything and nothing at the same time. Our customers come from all different backgrounds and walks of life so you can always find an interesting conversation. I look forward to seeing everyone again as soon as we're able to reopen our doors and hope that everyone is staying safe. Our customers have become a part of our Snowy Owl family.
Staff Spotlight: Kristie Handrinos
What is your favorite menu item?
My favorite menu item is a pour over au lait and cold brew with oat milk
What customers do you miss seeing the most?
I miss seeing all of our regulars. They truly make each day at the Snowy Owl special. I have a soft spot for the early morning crew that comes in day in and day out. I miss hearing about what they are up to. I hope that all of the customers are healthy and hanging in there during this unprecedented time. I can’t wait to get back to Snowy Owl and see everyone!
If you want some actual names….
Ann, Michaela, Selena, Brian, Karl, Greg & Emma, Josh, Steve & Nancy, John, Tom, Eric, all of the Jens
How are you coping during this time?
I have been keeping as busy as I possibly can within the restrictions that are in place. I’ve been diligently working out, playing videogames, hanging with family, playing with our two pups. My partner and I have been spending a lot of quality time together which has been so nice. We have two kayaks that we are working on cleaning out so we can get down to the pond behind my apartment! I’ve been keeping an eye on information about Covid19 to know what precautions to take to keep my family, partner, and myself healthy.
How are you making coffee at home?
At home, I switch off between a moka pot, pour over, and French press
What is your favorite coffee at Snowy Owl?
What have you been doing with your time?
I have been exercising, sleeping later than usual, hanging out with pups, reading, writing, trying to research some more about coffee so I don’t forget anything!
Tell me a couple of interesting things/you/fun facts?
I was flown to Colorado to taking barista classes through to SCA to become a Certified Level 1 Barista in 2018. I LOVE all dogs. So much.
I am also in recovery <3
Staff Spotlight: Ellen O'Donnell
What is your favorite menu item?
My fav drink is an oatmilk cappuccino. Love it early in the morning when the cafe dark and quiet and I’m prepping for opening. I also love sharing a Chemex using the Honduras beans
What customers do you miss seeing the most?
I miss our customers and reciprocity of bringing smiles to each other’s faces. I for sure miss one of my favs whose amazing personality and genuineness always brings me happiness- Michaela! happy birthday - thanks for being you!!
What have you been doing with your time?
I’ve been in Peru for 3 weeks. I spent time in Lima with gorgeous ocean views , beaches and sunsets. Then on to Cusco and the small villages of Urubamba and then by train onto Aqua Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Breathtaking hikes and scenery!!
To curb the virus, the government shut its borders and we have been awaiting a joint governmental flight back home!! Did not get to see as much of Peru as I had hoped but looking forward to returning again for sure!
Staff Spotlight: Mara Plato
Mara Plato, a lead barista at Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters, shares how she is spending her time during our closure and offers help to our community
What is your favorite menu item?
I love pour over coffees! The world of coffee is still so new to me and it is such a fun way to taste all the unique flavors that are out there! I make pour over coffees at home each morning. (However, some days I am less of a purist and I’ll treat myself by adding a dash of cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon, as well as a little splash of maple syrup and milk to my coffee!)
What customers do you miss seeing the most?
I miss everyone’s smiling faces equally! But the hen from the herb shop that I miss the most is the white one that wanders all around the building - I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for fluffy, dimwitted animals.
How are you coping during this time?
I’m doing my best to keep the faith! The ebbs and flows of life make each day different. If you fall, you just have to get up and keep trying again and again. Always hold onto hope and faith as best as you can.
What is your favorite coffee at Snowy Owl?
I love any of the coffees that are more full-bodied, nutty, and chocolatey!
What have you been doing with your time?
I have been spending a lot of time with my friend’s cute, fluffy dog! Sadie’s been getting pampered with loads of belly rubs!
I have also been volunteering some time with local conservation efforts. For those who don’t know, I worked in wildlife conservation for multiple years. I strongly support protecting the beautiful beaches around us and all of the biodiversity around us. So often people see rainforests or other far away places as important wildlife habitats but they do not see our local beach ecosystems as equally important or threatened. So I dedicate some of my time to protecting our local wildlife.
I have also been training for the Lake Tahoe half-marathon coming up in October!
What are a few fun facts about you?
I really, really love foxes. Especially the ones with really, really fluffy tails! One of my dreams is to rescue a fox from the fur trade and to give it a lovely home! I also really love border collies and hope to adopt one someday! I think it’d be sweet to raise a border collie puppy with a baby lamb and bring them up to be best friends together! One animal that I am also enamored with and hope to see someday is the manatee! I love plump, happy animals!
Some of my hobbies include birdwatching, paddleboarding, rescuing upside-down horseshoe crabs, catching sunrises & sunsets, stargazing, collecting wampum, and petting dogs.
For those who don’t know, I have been lucky enough to call D.C., the Outer Banks, Nantucket, San Diego, and Cape Cod home.
My dream is to someday have a farm and to steward my little piece of land in a way that promotes wildlife conservation and engages in regenerative agriculture.