‘I pivoted’: She was set to open Vietnamese coffee shop in KC. COVID made her mobile

Jackie Nguyen, a first generation Vietnamese American, took a trip to Vietnam a year ago, her second visit.

The first time she was overwhelmed to just be there. During this second visit she took time to soak up the culture, particularly the country’s many coffee shops.

“This time the weather was so perfect and they encourage you to sit outside,” she said. “I love that it felt like your family. They didn’t treat you like a customer.”

Now she’s bringing that culture to Kansas City with a new Vietnamese mobile coffee shop called Cafe Cà Phê. The truck will hit Kansas City streets starting in late October.

She will use Brooklyn-based roaster Nguyen Coffee Supply’s Vietnamese coffee beans, a slow-dripping filter and condensed milk.

“The coffee is much stronger, similar to espresso, and much sweeter. And the process of brewing the coffee is much like waiting for a cup of tea,” Nguyen said.

Other menu items will include Vietnamese hot chocolate and teas.

Nguyen, the daughter of a Vietnam War refugee, grew up in San Diego. She worked as a barista while starting her acting career in high school.

She’s traveled extensively as a musical theater performer and most recently appeared in and served as the Vietnamese language consultant for a North American tour of “Miss Saigon.” The show was halted because of COVID-19.

Her boyfriend grew up in Independence, and they were visiting over the holidays when they decided to move here. The pandemic moved up that timeline.

“I really love everything about it. The quality of life here and the cost of living is low, so it is easier to start a business,” said Nguyen, who recently lived in New York.

She originally planned a storefront, but financing for a brick-and-mortar space during the pandemic was not an option.

“It was really hard. But I’m tenacious and I did not want anything to stop me from launching my business,” Nguyen said. “So I pivoted. I think my fire comes from the thick skin I got in show business.”

She doesn’t have specifics yet on where to look for the truck but said it will be “popping up at locations around the KC metro.”

This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.