Meet Aliana Pipolo | Owner & Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aliana Pipolo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aliana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my business as a way of making vegan drinks with original recipes and real ingredients more accessible during an uncertain time. It began 2 months into the pandemic after I left my barista job a month before Covid started. I was itching to make people coffee again, especially because I was known for my unique drink creations. My coworkers and boss would ask me to make them fun drinks and even suggested we have a “weekly barista drink” in which I could serve my creations to customers. 3 months out of work, I decided I could make my own recipes and deliver them to people’s doorsteps, in an attempt to steer people away from overcrowding coffee shops as well as encouraging them to give me a try. So, I came up with the business concept and was up and delivering the following day!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One huge thing that sets me apart from others is that my drinks have unique flavor combinations and everything is made from scratch with original recipes. I put a huge emphasis on knowing what’s in your drink without all the fillers and secret ingredients. Just about all of my drinks are vegan too, excluding when I occasionally offer honey, so as to make it more accessible to everyone. I also think it’s really important to note that much of my business revolves around my Jewish heritage, (hence the word Mensch in my name, meaning “good person” in Yiddish). These days, it’s hard for some Jews to be loud and proud about our culture due to the rise in antisemitism, but I like to do what I can and represent through drinks and Jewish education.

At this point in time, I am most proud of impulsively purchasing my espresso machine, a La Marzocco Linea Mini. Since I started my business at the beginning of the pandemic, I didn’t have the advantage of watching other similar businesses grow, so I created the business format from scratch. Luckily, I had a lot of help, as I already had 3 years of coffee experience under my belt, plus my dad’s 25+ years of experience in the coffee industry. It’s so easy to overwork yourself when you are your own boss, so my big takeaway is that it’s okay to take a “me” day every once in a while! I want the world to know that coffee doesn’t have to be intimidating, it can have pink foam and heart straws and still taste delicious! And of course, support Jewish businesses!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For breakfast, I would take them to Roladin or Tel Aviv, both of whom have great authentic breakfasts. If Disneyland wasn’t on the agenda, we’d grab coffee at 10 Speed Coffee in Calabasas, on the way to explore Topanga. There are a lot of things to do there, such as go to different cafes, book stores, vintage stores, and so on. We’d grab some lunch and snacks there to bring to the beach, just on the other side of the canyon. I love a good beach picnic and nap, so after that we’d grab dinner at Follow Your Heart, and end off the night with some freshly baked goodies from Nancy’s Fancies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my parents, sister, and boyfriend. Between all the late nights, recipe developments, last minute grocery runs, and overall absence, they have been there nonstop, ready to help. So much of my knowledge and understanding of specialty coffee is credited to Dan McLaughlin and James Hoffman, as well as the short time I spent working in specialty coffee. I’d also like to note that my friends and customers deserve a huge shoutout, as I don’t think my business would have grown this much without word of mouth.

Instagram: instagram.com/cutemenschcoffee

Twitter: twitter.com/qtmenschcoffee

Other: Tik Tok: @cutemenschcoffee

Image Credits
Pictures 1-3 @stevemeierphotography