Meet Erene Henninger

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erene Henninger. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erene below.

Erene, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

The coffee industry is a male dominated world. As a minority woman, I have learned to value my uniqueness and my culture. Being born and raised in the Philippines has given me a broader perspective in how I evaluate taste and flavor profile of coffee.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am Erene Henninger and I founded Project Seed Coffee: a Filipino-inspired coffee shop in Virginia Beach, Va. What started as a side hustle during the pandemic has evolved from farmers market, home delivery and now, a brick & mortar store. The goal from the beginning is to plant seeds of hope, joy and love to people one cup of coffee at a time. I believe that by going back to my roots that I have established myself as a person who celebrates small businesses and most especially, the Filipino community. Since starting this business, I have come to know more about the needs of my fellow Filipinos in my community. November 2023 is when two of my friends and I started putting together events that showcases the Filipino food, art and culture. These events have shown that this is what we’ve all needed as a community. We’ve had total of 3 events since November. I am proud to say that my coffee shop has become an extension of Filipinos gathering together as a community.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The most impactful quality I have in pursuing my dream in opening a coffee shop is my resilience, I went through the process of starting small, building the knowledge and expertise in the coffee industry to be where I am today. My advice to anyone who would like to pursue a business is to make sure that they are truly passionate about it. There have been a lot of sleepless nights, blood, sweat and tears since I started but the love for coffee and the pursuit of being able to share a good cup of coffee have kept me going day after day. I remind myself that no one else will make my dream a reality but myself. I am blessed to have great support through my husband who has constantly cheered me on and helped me every step of the way.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

The biggest area of growth for me in the last 12 months is admitting I cannot do it all by myself. I used to do it all. Prep for market, brew coffee, bottle cold brew and sell them at markets. My husband has been instrumental in the success of our coffee shop. He has taken the role of Operations Director that manages everything from payroll to day-to-day operations. My sole focus is coffee and developing various flavors and offerings at the shop. By having someone else do what they are good at has allowed me to focus on the creative side of the business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.projectseedcoffee.com
• Instagram: @projectseedcoffee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectSeedCoffee/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/project-seed-coffee-virginia-beach

Image Credits

@kensfilmbits
@toneecameras
@projectseedcoffee