Coffee Lovers Nico Bolzico, Bea Soriano Dee and Happy Ongpauco-Tiu Share Work From Home Advice

What is your quarantine must-do?

Besides daughter and pet time, I need to spend time with nature. I take 10-15 minutes to be surrounded by plants and meditate.

How do you stay focused when working from home? 

I have to pick a spot to work—my office—that is where I focus. I need structure like that; I cannot work everywhere and all over the place. I need to schedule the day too, timewise. 

Business advise? 

As an entrepreneur, you have to find a way to pay salaries. You need to earn, to cover costs. We need to stay positive and remember that this is temporary. We will improve. Surf the wave in the best way you can. Reduce the cash burn as much as possible.

What is your quarantine silver-lining? 

We need to remind [ourselves] that we are the lucky ones. We are safe, we have a home, and a roof above our heads. I thank God every day that I am safe. I am thankful for my daughter, for my wife.

Describe yourself as a coffee.

Very sweet. I am very sweet, ask my wife.

What have you learned about yourself during these months in lockdown?

There are so many things we learned about ourselves. We learned to be more efficient with [working] from home. I realised that we do not need to meet in person to be productive. We cut travel time and transition time too so it can be more efficient. The goal is to be productive while facing all these hurdles. You need to adapt. Do not overstress yourself. You need to find balance. Find your sweet spot for productivity. 

Aside from coffee, what else perks you up during this pandemic?

Pochola sleeps with us in the room. She wakes me up every morning! 

Read More: Feeling Stressed? Here Are 5 Easy Tips To Feel More Calm And Positive

Bea Soriano Dee, co-founder of the incredibly successful Sunnies group—Studios, Specs, Face, and Café—is another wonder woman who has not slowed down once during quarantine. Handling a large swatch of employees, the Sunnies group had to act fast to not only keep the business buzzing but to also maintain morale. 

“Prior to the pandemic I rushed a lot and experienced lots of traffic. Now, I learned to slow down. I now appreciate my mornings. I get to be quiet, focus and set a mindset for what my day will be like. I really like that I have more time to prepare for the day. I am enjoying not being so fast-paced” Bea shared with us. 

How do you stay focused when working from home? 

For me, it is about creating a space to frame your mindset for what will happen [on] that desk. The mindset gets used to the routine. 

When did you start appreciating coffee?

For me, it was when I started travelling with my family. Being exposed to different coffee shops taught me a lot. I was in a hotel and came across a Nespresso and realised how easy it was. So I got one! 

Who would you thank for introducing you to coffee?

I would say, my dad. When I was young, I could smell the aroma from his cup so that influenced me.

What is your quarantine silver-lining? 

I am a working mom. I do not see my kids 9am to 5pm. Now, I get to be with them daily and spend more time with them. I get to see them interacting in class, with peers, in school. That is rewarding. I now also have all my meals with family which we did not do before. 

What is your quarantine must-do?

I love reading books. I need to learn something new every day. I feel incomplete when I do not read.

Business advice?

Cut as much costs. Communicate—over-communicate—with your team. We are not together these days so staying in touch will help you problem-solve fast. Make your staff feel like they are all still a part of the team and that the company is whole even if we are not together. At Sunnies, we have town hall discussions. We want everyone to know that they are part of the family: we got you, we hear you. 

What have you learned during this quarantine period?

I think I learned also to take care of mental health, do not be pressured by social media. 

Coffee habits or rituals?

I love the aroma. The sensorial experience is important to me. The smell filling the room makes me happy. I love chocolate notes in coffee. 

Aside from coffee what else perks you up during this pandemic?

My two kids sleep with me. They wake me up and keep me on my toes! 

Describe yourself as a coffee.

A latte with two shots espresso, I am tougher than I look. 

See Also: Martine Ho, Creative Director Of Sunnies Studios, Speaks Out On What's Important To Her

Happy Ongpauco-Tiu is the CEO of Happy Concept Group. As a lifetime foodie, restaurateur, and a professionally-trained chef, as well as a loving mother and wife, there really is not much room for down-time. With four boys and a husband at home, Happy still manages to run all her restaurants and food concepts and even found a way to start a new table-flatware project! 

“I am busier now” she confesses. “I have four boys and I am home-schooling them too. It is so exhausting. I need coffee to really wake up; I have three to four cups a day. I manage my household and my businesses at home so it is a big work-load. I am much more hectic.” 

What is your quarantine must-do? 

Family time. I need to spend fun time with my kids –have some playtime with them.

How do you stay focused when working from home?

Personal space is important. The kids even know when I am in my office space they cannot disturb me. 

What is your quarantine silver lining?

I am thankful for staying in good health. 

Describe yourself as a coffee.

Layered and sweet....because I am sweet!

What have you learned about yourself during lockdown? 

I have to be creative. I learned to be more creative in order to survive, work smarter, and be productive. 

What are your coffee habits or rituals?

I drink three cups a day. I need energy and I love the taste. My favourite is an Americano with cream and sugar. I use coffee for cooking too, in savoury dishes as well as desserts. I made baby back ribs with a coffee rub - [it's] fun to experiment. 

Aside from coffee what else perks you up during this pandemic?

Seeing my children laugh and smile makes me happy even though I am so tired. 

When did you start appreciating coffee?

I am a Nespresso loyalist. I bought my first Pixie 10 years ago. Up till now, the machine is still functioning and okay. 

Business advice? 

Be resilient. Do not look back. Look forward and always innovate.

Read more: 12 Chocolate-Filled Recipes From 12 Famous Food Personalities

Content from this feature is from the Nespresso Be Your Own Barista At Home Virtual Cafe event.