The Shift: From Tech to Foundations
Our journey started in the heart of New York City. I was immersed in the tech scene—where my office’s La Marzocco and professional barista training turned a morning habit into a lifelong obsession—while my wife navigated the high-pressure world of Manhattan’s restaurant industry.
When the world changed in 2020, we moved back to my roots on Long Island. We traded the city for tool belts and blueprints, starting a business flipping houses and building new construction homes from the ground up. Being "hands-on" became our identity. We learned that a good house, like a good cup of coffee, depends entirely on the quality of the foundation.
A Tale of Two Weddings
Our family is built on two worlds. In 2019, we had our civil ceremony in New York City. A few years later, we returned to Lampang to honor my wife’s heritage with a traditional Lanna wedding ceremony.
Because most of my family couldn’t make the journey from the States, her family and friends did something I’ll never forget: they stepped in to represent the "groom’s side." They didn't just witness our marriage; they claimed me as one of their own.
That sense of belonging didn't end with the wedding; it grew every time we returned home to her family village in Ban Sob Fa. Over the years, the village became my sanctuary and my laboratory. I became a familiar sight on the local roads—pedaling the 5.3km route from our house to Esketit with my gear in tow. Today, I’m not a visitor there; I’m a regular. The staff knows my drink before I even lean my bike against the wall.
It was during those long rides and quiet mornings at the cafe that the idea for Kafener began to take shape.
The "Aha" Moment in Chae Hom
With the birth of our son a year ago, we decided to take a step back from the heavy lifting of construction on Long Island to reflect and refocus. We spent three months in Chae Hom, and that’s where the "builder" in us met the "coffee geek."
Living in the village, we realized that if we ran out of specialty beans, the journey to find more was a challenge. Chae Hom is stunning, but it’s an hour away from the master roasters in Lampang city. We found ourselves coordinating shipments from Lampang and Chiang Rai just to keep our ritual alive.
We saw world-class talent in these local roasters, but we also saw how hard it was for people outside the region to find them. We realized we didn't just want to build houses anymore—we wanted to build a bridge. My wife took over the logistics and Thai communication, while I focused on the "flavor architecture" and the tech to make discovery easy.
A Brand That Understands Your Taste
We know that coffee is a living thing—it changes with the seasons on Long Island and the harvests in the North. Every bag we curate is an experience we believe in, but we also know that coffee is personal.
There are the bags you enjoy every single morning, and then there are the "Unicorn" bags—the ones that wow you so much you find yourself saving the last few scoops for a special occasion. We’ve built our Profile Builder to ensure that your journey is always anchored in the dominant notes you love, while giving you the chance to discover those rare gems that you'll want to savor until the very last drop.
We are building Kafener the same way we built those homes back home: with our own hands, a focus on quality, and a deep respect for the communities that welcomed us in.
Welcome to the family. Let's find your flavor.