Who is Cherry?
Lauren Fink, the heart and soul behind Cherry Coffee in New Orleans, is a passionate advocate for specialty coffee and a dedicated teacher who thrives on sharing her love for the craft with others. Her journey into the world of coffee began humbly inside Stein’s Deli, where she cultivated a loyal following by brewing exceptional coffee in a cozy, tucked-away corner. From those early days, Lauren’s unwavering dedication to quality and community paved the way for Cherry Coffee to flourish into a brick-and-mortar café on Laurel Street, a vibrant space where locals and visitors alike gather to experience her thoughtfully crafted brews.
Lauren’s love of continuous learning has been a driving force behind her evolution as a coffee professional. This passion led her to explore the art and science of roasting, enabling Cherry Coffee to move from a multi-roaster program to serving only coffees that Cherry sourced and roasted. What started as a personal pursuit of excellence has now grown into a thriving roasting operation, offering top-quality coffee to wholesale partners across the region.
Above all, Lauren’s greatest joy comes from teaching and inspiring others—whether she’s sharing her knowledge with customers, mentoring her team, or collaborating with fellow coffee enthusiasts. For Lauren, coffee is more than just a drink; it’s a craft, a community, and a lifelong journey of discovery.
Why are we called Cherry?
Most people don’t realize that coffee comes from the pit of a fruit known as the coffee cherry. These small, vibrant fruits grow on coffee plants, and their seeds—the coffee beans—are what we roast, grind, and brew to create the drink we all know and love.
It’s a simple question—“Why Cherry?”—that becomes a stepping stone for deeper understanding. It connects consumers to the origins of their favorite beverage, sparking curiosity about the process, the producers, and the dedication to craft that make specialty coffee so extraordinary.
At Cherry, we believe that fostering this connection not only enhances appreciation but also builds a stronger relationship between the drinker and the product—a celebration of the craft, the community, and the story behind every sip.