Jenn Ramirez

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Secret Coffee is tucked away in 678 Broadway Mall off the Flushing J - hence the name. It is a real IYKYk situation, making some of the best coffee in the city. Jenn Ramirez, the GM and one of two employees, knows her stuff! Every detail, from the merch to the ceramics to the coffee, is hand-picked and thoughtful. This shop makes coffee for the Brooklyn coffee lover and for the surrounding businesses that have been part of the classic NY-style mall for years. It is a hole in the wall everyone should know about.

Full name, age, where are you from?

Jenn Ramirez, 32, Queens NY

What is your title and where do you work?  

GM @ Secret Coffee

What inspired you to work in the food industry?

I worked in retail for a while and one day decided I was over it. I quit my job and had no clue what was next when my sister offered me a job as a chocolate maker. I started off wrapping chocolate by hand and ended up doing full bean to bar production. That’s when I realized I really enjoyed making something. There’s something special about creating something someone’s been looking forward to. Since then I worked as a chocolatier, ice cream maker/pastry chef and ultimately a coffee roaster. Moving from roasting to being a barista has been a refreshing change of pace! I’ve been enjoying the experience of putting something together for someone while still getting to interact with people and seeing them enjoy it.

What is your biggest customer pet peeve?

Ordering a drink we don’t have and just assuming we have it.

What is your most blissful food moment?

Going to Peru for the first time and having Peruvian food there. Being half Peruvian, I ate a lot of comida criolla here in the states but my brain/body/tastebuds were not prepared for how good it would be back in Peru. 

What dish do you want to perfect in the kitchen?
It’s gotta be sopaipilla. Growing up my mom would make them when it was raining and in the winter and I still look forward to the weather getting cold so I could enjoy them. Nothing like sopaipilla and some mate on a cold and rainy day. 

If you could shout out a colleague or friend in the industry who would it be and why?

Aric Carroll over at Vera Coffee Solutions. We connected when we were both working for Sey and he’s been a friend and resource since. Anything I need I know Arics got it. 

What is the best food city?

Lima, Peru. Nothing like it in the world!

How do you relax outside of work?

Being born and raised in NYC, i’m a super outdoorsy person. On my days off i’m usually 5 hours away from the city hiking somewhere.

What is your astrology sign (including moon and rising)?
Taurus Sun, Sag Moon, Gemini Rising.