If anyone knows a thing or two about coffee it’s Rachel Haughey, owner/founder of two NEAT locations in Darien and Westport. In addition to running her two shops, she’s wife and mom. Oh, and she and her husband are also in the midst of building a house and moving. We caught up with Rachel to get the dish on everything from how she stays in shape to her favorite weekend getaway.
When did you open your two locations?
Darien – August 31, 2009
Westport – September 2014 and we just did a relatively major renovation this July
What tapped your interest in becoming a barista/coffee shop owner?
My interest in learning to be a barista was piqued by an NY Times article in 2006 that coincided with a proactive move away from the economic consulting job I was working at the time in NYC. I quit my job and went to “school” at Gimme Coffee for about 6 months. Two years later, after a year and a half as a trading analyst at a commodities based hedge fund in Greenwich, I saw a void, and therefore an opportunity, in specialty coffee in CT. A year later, NEAT opened its doors in Darien.
What town do you currently live in?
We’re building in Rowayton but currently living in Westport. We’ll be in Rowayton within a couple of months.
Single, married, kids?
Married to my husband, Will with one daughter, Hannah who was born last June
Morning routine…
Morning routine is typically breakfast and play time with our daughter before the day starts. Oh, and we make and drink coffee.
Fitness…
I love cycling, but getting out on a long ride is definitely a luxury these days! My husband and I enjoy doing triathlons together; putting an event on the calendar helps us stay a bit more disciplined, sometimes.
Favorite food…
Almonds, in every form
Favorite cocktail/wine…
The Last Word
Most underrated item in the kitchen…
Digital scale, especially handy for brewing coffee and baking
What makes you cringe…
Grammatical errors (not to say that this is necessarily devoid of them!)
What do you skimp/splurge on…
I definitely splurge on food and beverage
Best advice ever received…
“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you do, and you will presently come to love him.”
—C.S. Lewis
On your nightstand…
My glasses, my husband would say that I’m basically blind once my contacts are out
Reading list…
Brothers Karamazov, Chocolate Wars, Leadership and Self Deception
Guilty pleasures…
Ice cream, daily
Summer weekend getaway…
We’re currently in Nantucket visiting family, and I’d say it’s pretty high on the list.
Favorite local/non-profit events…
Shakespeare on the Sound and Rowayton Turkey Trot