Coffee Check: why a tech YouTuber decided to open a coffee shop

by time news usa

Inside Coffee Check: A YouTuber‘s Journey to Coffee Shop Ownership

Coffee Check, which opened its doors in late August, is bustling on the morning of my visit. Nestled on a quiet, residential street in Greenpoint, the café features an expansive design. To the right, there’s a long counter and bar, while a large communal wooden table occupies the left. A customer is comfortably seated in a corner, taking a work call at an unexpectedly high volume. With outlets available for charging, superb Wi-Fi speeds, and a smart lighting setup designed to benefit the indoor plants, this coffee shop represents a fusion of community and technology.

At around 10:30 AM, Cogen, the owner, arrives and checks in with the baristas. He kindly gives me a tour of the café, which further extends into a secured area housing a fully equipped production studio available for rent on Peerspace. This unique feature highlights that Cogen is managing not just one, but three ventures: YouTube, the coffee shop, and serving as a landlord. He proudly points out the kitchen — an atypical amenity for a rental studio — designed for flexibility with removable appliances, as he plans to conduct kitchen gadget reviews on his YouTube channel. A collection of e-bikes from a previous video project rests in a corner next to a massive Samsung TV, which is destined for an upcoming video.

The tour continues as Cogen leads me into the podcast studio, a spacious booth furnished with a couch and two chairs he acquired from Finland at a discount, agreeing to showcase it as a New York showroom for the seller. Witty commentary aside, he sits down, offers me the couch, and sets up the Logitech microphones to discuss his journey.

In this episode of The Vergecast, the second part of a two-part miniseries titled “How to Make It in the Future,” Cogen shares insights about transitioning from a YouTuber to a coffee shop owner. He recounts the origins of his catchy phrase, “coffee, check,” and elaborates on how his passion for coffee evolved into a specialization, ultimately making Coffee Check a reality.

Cogen reflects on his career as a creator over the past 13 years, contemplating the contrast between the dynamic world of content creation and the slower pace of running a local business. He wrestles with the idea of becoming a coffee YouTuber while navigating the complexities of producing content without overshadowing the integrity of his café’s mission. These challenges resonate with many creators, particularly those who are striving to balance passion with entrepreneurship.

If you want to explore the topics discussed in this episode further, here are some links to get you started:

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Inside Coffee Check: A YouTuber’s Journey to Coffee Shop Ownership

Coffee Check, which opened its doors in late August, is bustling on the morning of my visit. Nestled on a quiet, residential street in Greenpoint, the café features an expansive design. To the right, there’s a long counter and bar, while a large communal wooden table occupies the left. A customer is comfortably seated in a corner, taking a work call at an unexpectedly high volume. With outlets available for charging, superb Wi-Fi speeds, and a smart lighting setup designed to benefit the indoor plants, this coffee shop represents a fusion of community and technology.

At around 10:30 AM, Cogen, the owner, arrives and checks in with the baristas. He kindly gives me a tour of the café, which further extends into a secured area housing a fully equipped production studio available for rent on Peerspace. This unique feature highlights that Cogen is managing not just one, but three ventures: YouTube, the coffee shop, and serving as a landlord. He proudly points out the kitchen — an atypical amenity for a rental studio — designed for flexibility with removable appliances, as he plans to conduct kitchen gadget reviews on his YouTube channel. A collection of e-bikes from a previous video project rests in a corner next to a massive Samsung TV, which is destined for an upcoming video.

The tour continues as Cogen leads me into the podcast studio, a spacious booth furnished with a couch and two chairs he acquired from Finland at a discount, agreeing to showcase it as a New York showroom for the seller. Witty commentary aside, he sits down, offers me the couch, and sets up the Logitech microphones to discuss his journey.

In this episode of The Vergecast, the second part of a two-part miniseries titled “How to Make It in the Future,” Cogen shares insights about transitioning from a YouTuber to a coffee shop owner. He recounts the origins of his catchy phrase, “coffee, check,” and elaborates on how his passion for coffee evolved into a specialization, ultimately making Coffee Check a reality.

Cogen reflects on his career as a creator over the past 13 years, contemplating the contrast between the dynamic world of content creation and the slower pace of running a local business. He wrestles with the idea of becoming a coffee YouTuber while navigating the complexities of producing content without overshadowing the integrity of his café’s mission. These challenges resonate with many creators, particularly those who are striving to balance passion with entrepreneurship.

If you want to explore the topics discussed in this episode further, here are some links to get you started:

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