We Talked Coffee, Entrepreneurship & Korean Skincare with Hannah Linea & Andrea, Founders of "Kaffi På Hjul"!

I met Hannah Linea and Andrea in Grimstad, a small city in Southern Norway beaming with life in the beginning of August. This summer they have been serving locals and tourists coffee from their racing green mobile wagon - “Kaffi På Hjul” (Coffee On Wheels). The local restaurant Smag & Behag hosted our lovely chat about everything from how they started their own company a few months after meeting for the first time, their go-to-places in Oslo and their love for Korean skincare. With no further ado dear readers, enjoy!

Firstly, tell me about yourselves!

Hannah Linea: “My name is Hannah Linea Støten, I’m 24 years old from Grimstad. I've been living in Oslo for three, almost four, years now. I study «Innovation and Business Development». Me and Andrea are studying together, that’s where we met last fall.”

What made you decide to take this degree?

Hannah Linea: “Honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I tried different directions, among them retail design, working in a bakery, I also studied interior design, which was a lot of fun. After a while I understood that I had an interest in being creative within the field of business and concept development. I searched online and stumbled upon this degree - and it was a match!”

Andrea: “I’m Andrea Bjugan, a 23 year old from Grimstad. I just started my fifth year in Oslo. I moved here because I needed a change in environment as a result of not finishing high school because of an illness. After finishing some courses, it was honestly quite random that I stumbled upon «Innovation and Business Development». My original plan was to become a teacher, but I noticed how much more I flourished whenever I got to be creative. I’ve always wanted to build something, wether it be a cafe or coffee bar, and during the pandemic I really got into coffee. I decided to go for it, and luckily it was a great match for me as well.”

What is it about coffee? How did your passion become «Kaffi På Hjul»?

Hannah Linea: “I started to drink coffee around 4-5 years ago. While living in the US some years ago drinking coffee was a hype. Honestly, I went to most of the coffee shops because of the interior design, however I slowly started to drink coffee as well, I guess I felt like I had to. I started drinking iced latte with vanilla and chocolate. While living in Oslo I began working at a bakery, and when I was home in Grimstad I worked at Smag & Behag. At both of these places I got to taste and make a lot of coffee. During the pandemic I bought my first V60 craft brewery. However, after I met Andrea, my interested skyrocket! The knowledge she has is quite impressive. Our friendship started with spending time at cafe’s and drinking lots and lots of coffee while studying.”

Andrea: “I actually started drinking coffee around the age of 14! Only iced coffee and such. Me and my friends had a Saturday ritual consisting of a trip down town and buying iced coffee. After a few years, I started working at a bakery that had a coffee machine, and since moving to Oslo I was immersed in a brand new coffee culture. There, I worked for W.B. Samson where I got some training, all while my own personal taste for coffee broaden. During the pandemic, a woman from my collective dorm worked at Supreme Roastworks and Kaffebrenneriet. She was the one whom introduced me properly to the world of coffee. Afterward, I invested in grinder, aeropress and V60. In addition, my friends gave me a hand brewing course at what today is called Rebel Coffee Academy, as my birthday gift last year. After the launch of Kaffi På Hjul I went back to the academy and became a certified master barista. This fall I’m starting my new job at Java in Oslo, a lovely coffee bar. Kaffi På Hjul started from our mutual love for coffee, we thought “Why not try to make money from our passion?”.

Hannah Linea: “True. Instead of spending money on coffee, why not instead try to make great coffee (that we get to drink lots of) while making money? After this, we started going to different events, among them the Barista League Competition. Also, we were hanging out at Neongrut, which is near campus, and we got to know Anton who runs it and he became our mentor. Through community we became a part of the coffee culture in Oslo by being at the right place at the right time.”

Andrea: “Yes, one event have truly led to the other and honestly it feels like this have all been planned out for us to become better baristas and eventually create Kaffi På Hjul.“

Hannah Linea: “The idea came after beaming with inspiration as a result of a trip to Copenhagen. While thinking about our plans for the upcoming summer, Andrea said - out of the blue - “We should start a mobile coffee bar in Grimstad”. This all happened during a lecture at the university, and our lecturer happened to walk by, realizing we no longer paid attention. When he found out what had made us so passionated, he said “Do it!” and gave us permission to leave class and start planning!”

Andrea: “One hour later we were chatting with the municipality in Grimstad and a few weeks later we had our own organization number. For us, this embodies the “don’t think, just do it”-mentality”.

What made you take the leap?

Hannah Linea: “We’re both people who wanted to create something, however it is scary and lots of people advise against taking too many chances. To meet someone like Andrea, whom had the same passion and willpower to pull trough, I think that is what made me go for it. I don't think I would dare to do it alone.”

Andrea: “No, me neither. Eventually we agreed that we honestly did not have that much to loose by trying and giving our mobile coffee bar a chance. However, there have definitely been times when we’ve been thinking “What have we done?!”, but somehow everything worked out.”

Hannah Linea: “There was one episode when the extension cord broke in the middle of a rush… we had several well-known people in the queue, and yes, failed to serve them coffee. With that said, our costumers have been very patient and understanding during those episodes.”

What’s your best advice for starting a business on your own?

Andrea: “Don’t overthink. Look for solutions rather than problems. Things don’t always go as planned and you have to be ready to take a new path or tweak something to make it work. Also, don’t get too attached to your first idea or vision. Our teacher always said «Kill your darlings» meaning, you shouldn’t get to attached to the first name, the first idea, the first everything. It can, and probably will, always evolve and get better.”

Hannah Linea: “And remember you are not alone. Our most random friendships have come to our rescue several times. Don’t underestimate the people around you.”

Andrea: “Yes, take advantage of your network! There is always someone who know someone who can help you out. Also, you have to be up front and put shame aside. Connect with people you find inspiring.”

Is there anything you wish you knew before you started Kaffi På Hjul?

Hannah Linea: “Pricing and knowing what you’re worth. We may have hit a few snags there. As a new start-up, we didn’t know what prices to charge for ourselves. Starting at a low price point we noticed we struggled to make ends meet. But this was a great experience for us.”

Andrea: “Yes, I think we have learned a few things the hard way, but this is something we appreciate looking back. And knowing what you’re worth even though we are young with a new start-up, we had to dear to charge for the quality we delivered. Knowing we delivered great quality coffee to our costumers was an inspiration for me to become a certified master barista.”

Where do you see Kaffi På Hjul in the future?

Hannah Linea: “We would love to create an oasis where people can come together to be inspired. To do this we feel like Kaffi På Hjul have provided us with a great starting point.”

Andrea: “Yes, we would love to come back to Grimstad to serve locals great coffee. In the long term, we would like to create a space where people come to find inspiration, with a coffee bar, design corner, flower shop... Everything is interwoven. At the same time, we have learned that a lot can happen in a short period of time. Our plans may be something completely different in a year's time.”

You recently launched “Kaffi Arkivet” (the Coffee Archive), tell me more about this!

Hannah Linea: “When we got back to our lives in Oslo, we figured we wanted to keep Kaffi På Hjul alive, also out of season. That is why we startet Kaffi Arkivet. We wanted to create a space for inspiration, growth and engagement around coffee”.

Andrea: “The dream is to build a community where we can share ideas, recommendations and the love for good coffee. Kaffi Arkivet is our way to start building this community.”

How do you define success?

Hannah Linea: “Living a life doing something that makes you excited when you wake up in the morning. Something that continues to bring you joy and inspiration, and makes you grow and flourish as a person. The day you start dreading going to work, it may be time to re-think whatever it is you’re doing.”

Andrea: “I also think that success is creating value. I do belive we have achieved success because we have created value for Grimstad, by serving them great coffee. When people come back and want their daily coffee form us, that's success in my opinion.”

Hannah Linea: “True, being able to create that little bundle of everyday joy for people.”

Andrea: “Yes, and we know it gives us great pleasure when buying a cup of coffee and the barista remembers us and our usual order. We make the barista happy and the barista makes us happy. When you manage to create such a relationship, it creates value and success is achieved. I feel perhaps a bit of a "we made it" moment was when a group of men whom were on holiday from Bergen said they had been sent here by the man owning Kaffemisjonen. Daily we heard costumers saying they had traveled to Grimstad from Oslo, Kragerø, Kristiansand and even Hungary just to try our coffee!”

You both grew up in Grimstad, what are your favourites here?

Andrea: “The restaurant Smag & Behag and Hesnes Gartneri. Also, the boutique stores Riips and Optikkhuset. Riips is an oasis of inspiration. Also, if you have time you should definitely go to Bringsværd farm and pick your own strawberries. Taking an evening swim at Strand Hotel is also lovely.”

Hannah Linea: “My favourite summer memory from Grimstad is to bring along food and go to Groos, watching the sun go down. In addition, there is a second hand shop called The Barn near Froland/Arendal, with a great selection of vintage clothing.”

You reside in Oslo, what are some must do’s there?

Hannah Linea: “A cafe called Pust is a lovely spot for coffee and brunch. Villa Stenersen, an old functionalist house is a great visit. Also, the wonderful variety in coffee shops. Sorgenfri is a lovely place. It’s a coffeeshop during the day turning wine bar at night. They also have exhibitions.”

Andrea: “Yes, and Supreme, Java and Kuro are a few favourite coffee shops. Also, Neongrut is a very good spot, in addition to florist shop Carousel. Also, Byens Tak is such a nice place, with Oslo’s best view.”

Mandatory question, favourite coffee?

Hannah Linea: “Cortado or Flat white with oat milk.”

Andrea: “Black coffee, preferably hand brewed with fruity flora from Ethiopia, preferably berry-dried. But when I'm at a cafe; a flat white on oats is my go-to.”

After the interview, we discovered a common interest in skin care. Andrea elaborates enthusiastically:

“I am very fond of skin care. I've always struggled with blemish-prone skin. About three years ago I discovered Korean skincare and it saved my skin.”

What does your routine look like?

“Moisture moisture moisture. Double cleanse. I use a cleansing balm from Banila and Co. You take a small spoon, massage it in your hands so it becomes oily. The make-up melts off when you massage it into your skin. After that you clean your face with a normal cleanser of your own choice. Then I use the famous snail slime, but remember to apply it on moist skin. Twice a week I use a chemical peeling, which removes pimples and dead skin cells. The downside is that you don't get a tan, but you retain your youthfulness. Most importantly, I use sunscreen every day, from Beauty and Joseon.”

How do you practice self-love?

“In addition to my skin care routine I love doing laundry, haha. And changing my bedding, followed by a shower. I occasionally use a fabric softener that smells a bit like coconut, not too much. I’m very concerned about keeping everything very clean, Also, I love to read. Before I started studying, I woke up at 6 and made coffee and read for an hour. It was amazing.”

Hannah Linea: “This is the kind of everyday life I try to aim for! But it doesn't work so well for a type B person. I’m very happy with the skin care routine Andrea has created for me. In addition, time with community nourishes my soul.”

Andrea: “Also, daring to say no and prioritizing. I need my time alone, while Hannah Linea could be out and about every night hanging out with friends!”

Hannah Linea: “I’ve had to learn to like my me-time. Last year I had a ritual of going to a cafe alone every Tuesday. It was great! Reading, drawing and finding inspiration from my surroundings. I truly recommend it.”

Make sure to follow their journey on Instagram: Kaffi På Hjul & Kaffi Arkivet!

All photos are Hannah Linea’s own, and published with her permission.