Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood has welcomed a new establishment, Offline Coffee Co., which opened last month. The cafe, co-founded by Krystal Graylin, a former Microsoft product manager, and Lucy Kong, an auditor at EY, seeks to provide a personal touch that technology cannot replicate.
Both founders have backgrounds in tech and finance but lacked formal barista experience. Their decision to venture into the coffee industry arose after years of joking about the idea while attending the University of Washington. They began to seriously consider the project in April, weighing the risks of leaving stable careers for café ownership.
Offline Coffee Co. draws inspiration from Chinese cafe culture and aims to create a welcoming space that serves as a "third place" away from corporate life. In addition to a selection of beverages and pastries, the cafe features local artwork and crafts for sale, enhancing its community-oriented atmosphere.