Daily Inspiration: Meet Sashaline Nguyen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sashaline Nguyen. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Tí Cafe is Denver’s first Vietnamese coffee shop owned by three sisters, Sashaline, Shasitie, and Shominic Nguyen. As creative individuals with strong personalities, raised by two entrepreneurial parents, we always knew we wanted to start our own business and saw the potential in bringing together our complementary skill sets. We originally wanted to venture into fashion and start our own clothing line, but our paths eventually led us to the food industry where we saw a great opportunity in celebrating Vietnamese culture and their thriving coffee scene, something we believe is underrated despite Vietnam being the second largest coffee producer in the world. But our shift in plans didn’t mean sacrificing the vision we had curated for any prior business endeavors—we believe Tí Cafe is unique because it isn’t just a coffee shop, it’s a brand that encapsulates a vision that has matured into intention and passion, something that captures the meaning of community and presents it through an unconventional lens to give a lasting impression beyond the physical. Each of our drinks, for example, comes with a branded tag that lists each order and name that fuses the function of a hangtag found in retail with the order tickets used in restaurants. Another example is the coffee shop space itself, which serves as an art gallery with revolving installations. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We went into Ti Cafe not only as first-time business owners but also during a global pandemic so you can imagine the plethora of learning curves and obstacles we had to face. We learned to wear many hats and play different roles in the business – from labor/contracting work to overall design. In the end, it was all about taking it day by day and coming together to fix the problem at hand. We are lucky we get along – for the most part – as sisters and that we try to support each other however we can. We each bring our own talents to this business and our differences are what make Ti Cafe unique and family-oriented. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The branding was a very essential but delicate process because we knew it was the most important aspect of our vision, to establish a foundation to build upon that we felt proud of, something that didn’t feel fabricated or forced but organic and long-lasting; a brand that we wouldn’t get sick of even 10 years down the line but would instead continue to grow. Similarly, we wanted a space that was timeless and minimal, something that could act as a blank canvas for us to continually build upon without limitations. In doing so, it leaves room for curiosity and serves as a starting point for conversation, which ties back to our values in community and creating a space that both welcomes and introduces. We chose a cool color palette with an emphasis on white to keep the space bright and refreshing, a place that feels like a breath of fresh air upon walking in. We wanted to make sure it didn’t feel intimidating or sterile despite the modern design choices and instead felt comfortable and inviting by offsetting the minimal, cool-toned elements with warm light fixtures, an abundance of plants, and accent textures of our Tí homies—drawings that our mom kept from our childhood—sprinkled throughout to give the space a touch of playfulness. 

What makes you happy?
What makes us happy is that we were able to open a business with Vietnamese representation in the forefront of our vision. In a city with plenty of room for growth within the food scene, it feels awesome to be able to introduce a specialty Vietnamese coffee shop -with coffee being the product that brings a whole community together. We are happy to be able to shine light on how our coffee is brewed and what sets it apart from other coffee beverages. 

Contact Info:

• Email: ti.cafeofficial@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.ti.cafe/
• Instagram: ti.cafe

Image Credits:
Ti Cafe