Today we’d like to introduce you to Niken Prabanto.
Niken, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since its inception in 2009, Greenway Coffee has always been about providing quality through relationships. David Buehrer and Ecky Prabanto started the company on a foundation of sourcing coffee from small producers and cultivating important relationships throughout the supply chain, from producers to baristas. Now joined by Ecky’s sister, Niken Prabanto, the team — supported by a dedicated staff that is also passionate about the craft — has been able to mold Greenway into the enduring source of high-quality coffee that it is today.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
What is a smooth road when it comes to running a small business? Haha. Overall, we have been very fortunate when it comes to finding the right location, opportunity and concepts. Most of the struggles are day to day management. Creating safe workplace for baristas. Current struggle like every other business in this industry, adjusting to Covid. Some of the concepts are closed temporarily and another concept closed permanently because it was highly impacted by Covid.
Throughout the years, the obstacles don’t reduce in frequency but the challenges do get more difficult to solve. The company is growing, the employees are increasing so there is always something. Whether it’s as simple as a broken grinder during rush hours or working really hard to provide health insurance for our employees.
We’d love to hear more about the business.
Greenway Coffee has been around since ’09. We are a local coffee roasting company and people know our cafes like Blacksmith, Morningstar and Inversion Coffee. I am director of operations for Greenway Coffee Co. That includes overseeing the roastery and the cafes. Sometimes I fix coffee equipment too. We are a small, family run business. The head roaster is my sister, Ecky Prabanto. Our business partner, David Buehrer, is the visionary and I make things happen. We are very proud of our coffee. We like how they taste but we are also very proud of our #coffeefam we’ve built here in Houston. We have the most amazing and talented staff.
What were you like growing up?
Since 6th grade, I knew I will move to the US and pursue higher education here. So, I left Indonesia as soon as I was old enough to move to the States by myself. I was 16 year old when I moved to Seattle. Skipped senior year of HS and went straight to college.
After receiving my Associates degree from a two year college in Seattle, I enrolled in Disney World’s College Program and did the program in Orlando for a year. Decided to move to Houston to be closer to my sister, Ecky Prabanto (Greenway’s roaster) so I graduated with Bachelor degree in Psychology from University of Houston. Go Coogs!
I have always been the curious one, or maybe the weird one. I am the only one in my whole family with piercings and tattoos. I think they are cool! I have always been an independent individual. My parents trusted my maturity to move across the world by myself when I was 16. It was really hard for them to let me go but they knew there are bigger opportunities here in the US. 12 years later, I am still here!
As far as interests, I played basketball growing up. I loved going to school. I participated in every single after school program offered at my school. I was in a choir and competed in Europe and Asia.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3 Greenway Plaza
- Website: www.greenwaycoffee.com
- Phone: 832-672-1712
- Email: niken@greenwaycoffee.com
- Instagram: @greenwaycoffee
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