COMMUNITY MAGAZINE March 2021

48 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Woman Woman to One on One with ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS “I feel blessed to have built The Brooklyn Barista through word of mouth.  Our community has supported me wholeheartedly since day one, and I am honored to return that support through hesed.” Alisen Setton Chazanoff Who is Alisen Chazanoff?  Alisen was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Hollywood, Florida.  Her loved ones describe her as real, brave, compassionate, and funny.  She considers herself “authentic” and prides herself on always “following her heart.” Our conversation gave me a glimpse into her essence, passions, and loving and laid-back nature.  I immediately sensed Alisen’s genuine warmth and enthusiasm. She had cleared her day and reviewed her journals in advance of our interview. Alisen has been documenting her feelings and major life events for almost 30 years. “Writing in my journal helps me become more aware and find solutions to problems. I journal before I go to bed to plan my schedule/priorities for the next day.” Raised with “unconditional love and encouragement,” it is not surprising that Alisen, affectionately known in the community as “The Brooklyn Barista,” went from “doing good to brewing good.”   CREATING A COFFEE NICHE  Alisen’s daydream about connecting with people through the experience of a beautifully crafted cappuccino became a reality when she was inspired to support her friend and cancer survivor Lynda Levy. Upon learning about Lynda’s annual fundraiser to benefit Sephardic Bikur Holim and the Lymphoma Society, Alisen drew upon her entrepreneurial spirit and proposed the idea of setting up a coffee bar as an event sponsor.  The event was a major success!  Alisen sold hundreds of cups of coffee.  Customers assumed she had a retail business and asked for her card.  That day, her close friend Aliza Salem, aka “The Ghetto Gourmet,” encouraged her to begin promoting her concept and to create business cards right away.  And it was her younger sister, Lorie, who immediately coined her “The Brooklyn Barista.”  Alisen explained that “An unexpected business was now organically and officially launched.“  The calls to book The Brooklyn Barista for affairs started rolling in and Alisen received requests to host everything from milestone events and bridal showers to teacher appreciation events and medical conferences.  One might ask, why coffee?  Alisen used to prepare a perfect cup of coffee with just the right amount of milk for her mom every morning since she was seven.  “This is the best coffee I have ever tasted!” her mom would declare each time.  “Over 30 years later, the positive memory of making my mom so happy through a simple cup of coffee came back to me.”   Alisen had observed the magical way her grandmothers and her husband’s grandma would connect over a cup of coffee.   “I shared so many precious moments with my Nonna Esther, a”h , over a cup of Turkish coffee.  I witnessed my Safta Alice, a”h, gathering friends and family over countless cups of coffee. I had the honor of spending priceless times with my husband’s Grandma Jane, a”h, when she imparted her life’s wisdom over coffee.”     Her vision for The Brooklyn Barista is rooted in the experience of coffee – “It’s a personal experience, it’s about friendship, it’s about connecting.” NOT JUST COFFEE  Seven years into her journey, Alisen continues to develop new recipes, maintain strong relationships with her clients and community partners, and consistently strive for a quality product with impeccable service.  “I always had the entrepreneurial spirit in my heart and it came to fruition with The Brooklyn Barista. I enjoy creating and offering different options depending on the event and the season.”  The Brooklyn Barista offers artisan coffee catering featuring hot and cold brew, cappuccinos, lattes, cold- pressed herbal tea, hot chocolate, and more.  Alisen also sells her signature cold brew and cold-pressed herbal tea on her social media platforms.  Through her fundraising efforts, Alisen has supported and created awareness for many nonprofit organizations including SBH, Hatzalah, Sephardic Food Fund, Masbia, Morris Franco Cancer Center, Chai Lifeline, IDF, and Chai for Lyme, among others.   In addition to bringing her traveling coffee bar to private parties, varying from five to five hundred guests, Alisen’s clients are diverse and range from yeshivot such as Yeshiva University, Yeshivah of Flatbush, Magen David, Barkai, and Mazel Day School, to notable caterers including Claudia Bildirici, Grace Sitt, and Batya’s Kitchen. Upscale retail boutiques such as The Yellow Door, Wishing Well, and Paris Pop often enlist The Brooklyn Barista for their customer appreciation events.  The Brooklyn Barista was also an official sponsor of Kosher Food Media.   Alisen’s biggest professional challenge?  Her goal of living up to her gold standard and never outsourcing an event has proven to be taxing at times.  She has made so many friends through The Brooklyn Barista, being a part of everyone’s smachot is not always feasible.    - Alisen Chazanoff