Meet The Pros

Tobi - Customer Service Barista

Time In Speciality Coffee

3 years

Favorite Drink

Rich Caramel Coffee

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

Pacific Natural Foods Barista Series Soy Blender Plain

Bio

Tobi started working at Starbucks in her home town of Fort Collins, but didn't like coffee much when she was first hired on. With a large amount of time spent experimenting with some yummy, and not so yummy, flavor combinations, she began to find her liking for coffee in the buff. She enjoys a cup of coffee and cream with her breakfast as well as an Americano as her midday "pick-me up".

She started at Barista Pro Shop in the hopes of bringing all of her knowledge from experiments, and multiple coffee shop jobs, to help other people find exactly what they are looking for—and maybe some things they didn't realize they wanted! When Tobi isn't at Barista Pro Shop, you can find her at the gym or out to dinner with friends and family. 

Jay - Co-Owner

Time In Speciality Coffee

25 years

Favorite Drink

Americano

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

Dr. Smoothie Organic Strawberry Smoothie Concentrate

Bio

Jay started working with cafes in 1994, baking 3 flavors of scones in the bakery he and his wife Jen owned -- originally called "J Street Biscuit Co." They began adding allied products in 1997 -- their first three brands were Ghirardelli, Da Vinci and Oregon Chai. Jay exhibited at the SCAA annual event in Denver in the Spring of 1998 and he hasn't looked back since. Jay has baked a lot of scones, rolled a lot of burritos, done a lot of deliveries and unloaded a lot of trucks!

Jen - Co-Owner

Time In Speciality Coffee

25 years

Favorite Drink

Coconut Blended Cold Brew

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

J Street Biscuit Co. Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Bio

Jennifer began her career in the specialty coffee industry while in college as a baker for Red Chair Bakery in Bloomington, Indiana. After graduation, she moved out to Colorado where she met her future husband and co-owner of BPS, Jay Weller. Working together in a 400 square foot bakery, they started J Street Biscuit Company with just three flavors of scones and one employee! Over the years they have worked together to grow with the expanding specialty coffee industry. Today they have a much larger bakery, three warehouses and a team of about 40 dedicated Pro’s. Jennifer has rolled a lot of burritos and scooped a lot of cookies over 25 years, but she still enjoys working in the bakery developing new products for their customers and working with Jay on the future of BPS.

Elyse - Customer Service Barista

Time In Speciality Coffee

10 years

Favorite Drink

Kandy Coconut Shandy

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

Hollander Chocolate Caramel Sauce

Bio

Elyse has worked and supervised in the corporate coffee world with a work history that includes both drive-thru and sit-down cafes. She has had hands-on experience with fully automatic machines, as well as many of the products and supplies that BPS carries. Elyse resides in Loveland with her husband and two daughters. Her favorite way to unwind is with a book and a cup of hot coffee on a rainy day.

Lucy - Customer Service Barista

Time In Speciality Coffee

5 years

Favorite Drink

Mistletoe Hot Chocolate

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

Toddy Consumer Model(s)

Bio

Originally from Paraguay, South America, Lucia moved to the United States in 2013. She began her coffee career right away with her first job managing a Proudly Serve Starbucks location at a hotel in Loveland. From there, her love for coffee only grew --  so much, that she ultimately got a second job at a local Starbucks. After a few years in the hotel industry, she got offered the position at Barista Pro Shop. She has always enjoyed interacting with and helping people, so working in this facet of the coffee world is really a perfect fit. Lucy, as she likes to be called, spends most of her free time walking around the lake where she lives, with her husband and dog.

Tia - Cafe Consultant

Time In Speciality Coffee

15 years

Favorite Drink

White Frost Flower Mocha

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

Ghirardelli® White Chocolate & Cocoa Sweet Ground Powder

Bio

Tia first joined the coffee industry 15 years ago working for Moxie Java, a locally owned coffee shop. She was quickly promoted to a management position, but after 8 years of faithful customer service it was time to develop a deeper understanding of the coffee world. Tia began working at Barista Pro Shop as a part time Customer Service Representative and Marketing Assistant under the advisement of an SCAA Certified Barista Head Judge. After two years of mentorship from such a knowledgeable barista, Tia found her stride in the Customer Service department and took on a full time position. Tia has now been with Barista Pro Shop for 7 years. Since working here, Tia has judged numerous Latte Art Throw Downs, helped brainstorm signature blends with Cappuccine during their “Making Great Frappes & Smoothies” class at Coffee Fest, and judged at the U.S. Latte Art Championships in 2015. Tia has been known to put White Chocolate in everything and enjoys mixing up some tasty drinks for her fellow co-workers.  Although Tia is usually at a in the cafe, at a computer or on the road visiting coffee shops, there have been known sightings of her perfecting some sweet yo-yo moves at Coffee Fest. If you catch her she may give you a free yo-yo lesson...

Kristen - Customer Service Barista

Time In Speciality Coffee

2 years

Favorite Drink

Americano

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

Bhakti Chai Original Chai Concentrate

Bio

At a small cafe in her hometown, Kristen first started pouring coffee when she was just fourteen years old. Farmers and fishermen would come in early for a cup of black coffee and some conversation. During her ten years in the food service industry since then, her love for hospitality has only grown.

In true southern fashion, she loves making people feel at home. At Barista Pro Shop, she enjoys providing just the right product for a customer, baked good for a staff party or personalized signature drink to celebrate an individual. She pays attention to the details in her work because ultimately they are her gift to the recipient.

Interested in new trends and innovations she loves using her creativity to invent a new twist on a classic or inspire with a recipe that taps into our shared nostalgia -- like a blended beverage that conjures cherry snow cones and the county fair.

Despite her ingenuity, she hasn't strayed far from her roots though. Most days she can still be found sipping a black coffee of her own, eager to chat.

Alex - Marketing Representative, Promotion Specialist

Time In Speciality Coffee

2

Favorite Drink

Caramel Flavored Coffee

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

Oatly Chocolate Oatmilk

Bio

"You can take the man out of the city but you can't take the city out of the man!" No words have been truer to Alex, born and raised in the big Windy City(Chicago), he has found himself in Colorado taking on the specialty coffee world. With a flair for adventure and whimsy he brought almost 2 years of experience working as a barista and his degree in Multimedia Design and Development to the BPS family and has been a vibrant addition to the team. Alex likes to tout himself as the "pretty face" of the marketing team as everything that has a level of design, from ads and gifs to photography for Lively Libations(some of which he has contributed phenomenal recipes for) to even editing videos and photos for Social Media and the website, there is a good chance that you have seen his work all around. Always smiling, Alex is a huge Chicago Cubs fan and Star Wars fan so make sure when you meet him you bring those topics up and he'll just keep talking on! Alex is an innovator at heart and is hopeful for contributing to the further success of Barista Pro Shop!   

Deveny - Bakery Manager

Time In Speciality Coffee

12

Favorite Drink

Toddy Cold-Brewed Coffee Concentrate

Favorite Product in the BPS Catalog

J Street Biscuit Co. BAR - Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar

Bio