Exploring Life & Business with Esther Park of Tot Coffee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Esther Park.

Hi Esther, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I originally went to school for Fashion Merchandising, thinking I’d pursue a career in visual merchandising or buying. But after a few years in the industry, I realized I lacked true passion for it. At 24, I made the difficult decision to leave fashion behind. That choice led to a period of feeling completely lost — a real “quarter-life crisis,” as they say. I had to seek help and reset.

One thing I’ve always believed is that whatever I choose to do, it needs to have purpose so I looked for something to pursue. In my early 20s, I was already an avid coffee drinker, curious and drawn to the craft behind every cup. That simple passion pushed me to start over — back to minimum wage — just to learn the ropes. Before I knew it, I became a store manager, joined HQ of a food & beverage company, and gained hands-on experience in the operations of a business.

I fell in love with the F&B and hospitality industry — and more importantly, the coffee community. Six years later, I found the perfect space in the heart of Redondo Beach. Despite my fears, weaknesses, and growing pains, I spent a full year planning, designing, and building. In December 2024, Tot Coffee officially opened its doors.

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?
Hell no. I started working in coffee in 2019. Then in February 2020 — well, we all know what happened. The pandemic hit. During the first year or so of my barista “career,” my husband and I were struggling financially — like, really struggling.
We thought we had a plan. We treated my barista training as an investment in our future shop. But when reality hit, everything had me second-guessing: Did I choose the right path?

A few years in, it was still hard to figure out what I wanted from all this. I kept asking myself: Do I stay and continue building someone else’s dream, or do I take the risk and start something of my own?

We’ve been impressed with Tot Coffee, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Tot Coffee began with the story of my younger self — 4-year-old Esther, who immigrated from South Korea to a small town in the U.S. I grew up aware of my challenges: language barriers, not understanding American humor, and navigating life as both a minority and a woman. Because of that, I knew I had to try harder — to stay curious and keep learning. The word “tot” means child, and I was inspired by the limitless curiosity that children have, which ultimately led to our business motto: “No Bounds.”

As the owner, I treat my space as a community — coffee is simply the tool. I always remind my baristas to lead with passion, even if they’re still learning or don’t yet feel highly skilled, because passion will always take you somewhere. I’m incredibly proud of how far my team and business have come. We started with just five people — now we’re nine. I take pride in both our service to the community and the quality of our carefully crafted drinks.

What makes us different is our unique ingredients, vibrant Saturday social run club (No Bounds Run Club), and our curated ‘Monthly Pick’ selection of pour-overs featuring coffees from around the world — especially as the first U.S. shop to distribute beans curated by Unspecialty, a coffee collective based in Korea.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor or building a network doesn’t always happen through formal channels — at least that wasn’t the case for me. I didn’t go out searching for a mentor in the traditional sense, but I found guidance through real relationships.

Growing up in a religious household, I was always volunteering at church with my family — often the first to arrive and the last to leave. I also watched my aunt, who raised me, always inviting people into our home and feeding them with homemade food. Those experiences taught me the importance of serving others, listening, and seeing things from different perspectives — which are also key to meaningful networking.

During my coffee career, I had two bosses who taught me different lessons: one showed me how to lead with drive and charisma; the other modeled patience and the value of building trust. Neither of them were “assigned” mentors, but they became people I looked up to and learned from.

So my advice is: don’t overthink it. Be curious, be helpful, and show up with a good attitude. Mentors can come in many forms — it’s really about building relationships rooted in mutual respect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drinktotcoffee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinktotcoffee
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tot-coffee-redondo-beach?osq=tot+coffee

Image Credits
Yasmina @yasmeanuh
Hannah @hy_18ujin
Jeremiah @ang.jdga