Meet Your Barista: Matt Menzenski
By Alexis Zaharis | Jun 27, 2009
An Ithaca native, we met Matt at the 2008 NERBC (where he won 7th place).
Shortly there after Matt joined the Gimme team, becoming a barista at our Cayuga Street cafe.
Since working at Cayuga, Matt has traded in his dreadlocks for a gimme cycling cap, swapped cigarettes for a savings account, and turned in his motorcycle keys for legs of steel.
Matt is the poster-child for Team Gimme! Getting hit by a car last month hasn't stopped him from cycling and the insurance money he received from the accident was enough for him to purchase his dream bicycle -a single speed Surly frame that he has since put together himself.
All winter long yes, even those below 20-degree days with snow, sleet and rain Matt has commuted to work from Lansing every day. Since last fall Matt has logged in over 3000 miles.
When not drinking an iced Americano and buying new cycling gear with his employee discount at Cayuga Ski & Cyclery (where he works part-time as a bike tech), you can find Matt watching football, listening to Elliott Smith, and getting lost amid his collection of over 850 books. We heart Matt Menzenski.
Rebecca Weger Jun 27, 2009 – 2:16 PM
I've been meaning to ask Matt his name for a while. We live a block or two away and frequently head in to Gimme! in the evenings to grab decaf drinks on our way for an evening walk - usually up to the lower falls of the Cascadilla Gorge. Matt is almost always the one who makes our drinks, and they are always fantastic.
JP Jun 28, 2009 – 7:27 PM
From that description, I heart him too!
Erin Jul 1, 2009 – 2:22 AM
that's one hot tulip.
tom Jul 3, 2009 – 11:49 PM
I was never a big coffee drinker until Matt made me my first espresso. I didn't know coffee, especially espresso, a drink i previously found to be too bitter, could be so good! Now when I try to make them at home, I try replicating Matt's method.
Mandy Jul 24, 2009 – 10:26 AM
This is hilarious. I was looking for Hillcrest Dairy cow photos and came across high school classmate epic bio. Way to go Matt!
Buzz Spector Aug 3, 2009 – 12:15 PM
So far I have not found a local roaster even close to what I've been getting at GIMME! I'll be ordering online for the moment, but plan on having Njara pick me up some Sumatran when she passes through town in a couple of weeks. Pass along my best regards to your family.
Lauri Sep 18, 2009 – 1:11 AM
Hey is Matt in Portland right now making a west coast visit? A barista spotted him at Barista (of all places) in the Pearl District in PDX. Did he ride his bike here?