Why passionfruit? The couple wanted a name that felt fun, vibrant and flavorful. One of them has a tattoo of a passionfruit. And Taylor happened to have a background in french pastry, with passionfruit a favored ingredient of his. It just fit.
To bring Passionfruit to life, Taylor and Chloe leaned on their combined experience in the hospitality industry to turn an old, triangle-shaped garage into a welcoming space with lovable quirks. The Sioks source the highest-quality products they can find — including DOMA Coffee — to craft artful drinks and pastries, like their flagship passionfruit pound cake and bake-to-order madeleines. They make seasonal syrups and playful drink specials, like a corn chai in the fall. But the thing they’re most proud of crafting is a recurring community at the café.
“People want to leave their apartments and find a great third space, so we wanted to create that with Passionfruit,” says Chloe. They went maximalist on design to fit the vibe: bold crane wallpaper, pink touches, and color wherever they could fit it. Functionality was equally important, with a clean and comfortable space for the coffee team behind the bar.
Between the two of them, the Sioks have worked nearly every role in the industry: back of house, pastry chef, chef, operations, barista, server and bartender. "We've seen the good and the bad of the industry. Our goal is to take what's positive and correct for what's not," says Taylor.
One example is how the Sioks made the decision to go tip-free at Passionfruit. They see it as their responsibility as owners to pay staff fairly. “We felt it was best for everyone — for fairness, for team morale, and for community,” Taylor says. It's a decision that pays off in the long run.
“For me, [the most rewarding thing] is not one moment, it’s the everyday interactions. Getting to know regulars, seeing people use and enjoy the space in their own way. That’s what makes me look forward to coming here every day,” says Taylor.
So, how did DOMA Coffee of North Idaho end up in Brooklyn, NY? The Sioks discovered DOMA during their time working in hospitality in Washington State and loved DOMA’s consistency and ethos.
“Consistency is one of our keys to success at Passionfruit, so we need to be able to rely on consistency when it comes to the products that we are using. Year round, the team at DOMA is able to produce a consistent and quality bean that we and our guests can rely on. Like us, DOMA puts community at the center of their ethos,” says Taylor.
Taylor is a fan of DOMA’s Marco’s coffee on drip, saying it has a nostalgic quality like classic diner coffee while being more well-balanced and intentionally made. It’s one of many beautiful things he likes to share with his customers.
“Brooklyn has a huge demand for good coffee, but the density of truly high-quality shops is lower than you’d think given the population,” says Taylor. “Compared to the West Coast, it’s much less saturated here. So we felt there was room to contribute something special here.”
With Passionfruit, they’ve created something special indeed.
Wish you lived closer? Us too. Follow Passionfruit on social media and be sure to drop by if you’re ever close!
About The Series
A good day starts with DOMA coffee. For the past year, we've followed cool humans and the things they do after their morning cup of DOMA Coffee. Turns out, humans are awesome. Especially after caffeine.
Stay tuned as we continue to release their stories.