Today we’d like to introduce you to Gacia Tachejian.
Hi Gacia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Coffee started out as a hobby for me. Something I loved to geek out on and learn about. It seemed like an endless and ever-growing industry. I loved the community aspect of it at first, hence why my very first job was at Starbucks in 2004 when I was still in high school. It was never something I thought could turn into a real career. My love for specialty coffee started when I was in grad school in New York City. I enjoyed pour-overs and became obsessed with latte art. When I moved back to my hometown in 2013, specialty coffee was few and far between, and I caught myself always searching and driving to distances far from home to have craft coffee. Eventually, I started roasting my own beans in my garage for fun and realized how much I loved it. I started giving it out to friends and family. I got positive feedback which motivated and inspired me to start my own coffee cart. My boss/colleague at my full-time job at UCLA, who had witnessed me on my journey and was a fan of my coffee, encouraged me to take it a step further. We decided to open a brick-and-mortar coffee shop and roastery together along with her husband, Paul Burgis, who is a successful entrepreneur in the food and beverage industry. Together, we have a beautiful partnership and created what you see today at Laidrey’s.
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?
Not at all. We started our business during the middle of the pandemic. We had to adjust to all the rules and regulations just like everyone else in the food and service industry. It was a challenge to be able to start and grow a business during that time. However, I think the struggles we went through trying to get our coffee to as many hands as possible made us more aware of community and hospitality. Making people feel welcome and creating a connection with each of our customers has really helped us grow in our community. Really education people about coffee and sharing our passion for it has been one of the key factors that has helped us succeed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Laidrey?
We are a third-wave specialty coffee company focused on getting you ethically sourced, meticulously roasted beans and always freshly brewed in our stores. We are a majority woman-owned business. We source our coffee from female-owned or female-run farms. Our coffee is organic and sustainably sourced. We roast our coffee fresh to order. Our online coffee subscription has been named one of the best two years in a row on Bon Appetit in 2022 and 2023. We offer a unique ability to customize your subscription based on your roast preference, brew type, quantity (multiple bags of coffee), and frequency (biweekly or monthly). We source our coffee based on the freshest harvest so which means the coffee we use in our stores and in the subscriptions are ever changing, so you never get bored, and you get to tour the world of coffee with us.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I took the biggest risk of my life by starting this company. I left a stable and secure job during a volatile time in American economics. I had a three-year-old son at the time (he is now seven) to do what I love. What I can say is the bigger the risk, the harder you’ll work to make it work. However, your risk should be mitigated by your passion and love for what you do. My life is much more stressful now than it used to be when I worked at UCLA, BUT I am much happier now and feel like I am making a bigger impact in the world through our customers, our coffee farmers, and my son. Leo (my son) sees me working harder than ever, and I hope it helps him learn how hard work, discipline, and persistence in doing what you love will bring you success and happiness.
Pricing:
- $19 for 12 oz coffee bag
- $5 – $7 for a drink in our shops
- $21 online subscription
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laidrey.com
- Instagram: laidreyroasters
- Facebook: laidreyroasters
- Yelp: laidrey
Image Credits
Cara Harman
