Kayliegh Bortolussi
When Kayleigh Bortolussi started working at Starbucks about a dozen years ago, she didn’t know much about coffee.
“Really, I just needed a job,” the Masury woman said. “I didn’t really think I was going to really like it that much. But, I just really fell in love with coffee. I learned a lot about it. It was a whole world of coffee I didn’t know existed. You don’t really think about where it comes from or how it’s grown, stuff like that. Once I started learning more about it, I came to a greater appreciation for it.”
She moved on to other coffee-serving jobs, but when her last gig, at the Perfect Bite in Hermitage, closed, she decided she needed a change.
“I didn’t want to stop doing coffee, so I thought the only way to keep doing it for sure was to do it on my own,” Bortolussi said.
About three years ago, Bortolusi created Slow Hurry Coffee, working out of a cart at events to serve espresso-based drinks and teas. She had an extended residency at Evolve in Sharon and has worked at the Hubbard Farmer’s Market. She has slowly worked up to getting a trailer and a warehouse in Masury, where she has started regular hours.
Her first event in Brookfield was Fat Hippy Records’ Record Store Day promotion on April 12.
“I was excited for it to be a hometown event for the first time,” Bortolussi said. “I want to stay doing stuff in Brookfield. We don’t have any coffee here, so I definitely want to be a home base for coffee for people in this area. That’s why I’m starting to do it from my warehouse space.”
The warehouse is at 847 Brookfield Avenue, in the lower level of the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu building. Go around the back to find her.
“The plan is, going forward, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, doing coffee there (at the warehouse), unless I have an event booked.”
Her warehouse hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and she will also have a selection of Noble Creature, Youngstown, bagels and Village Farmacy, Poland, pastries.
“Primarily, I serve an espresso-based menu, so, lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos,” Bortolussi said. “I do have drip coffee. I have a really nice selection of teas.”
The espressos come from Branch Street Coffee Roasters of Boardman and the teas from Spirit Tea of Chicago. She makes her own syrups from organic cane sugar and natural extracts.
This summer, Bortolussi will serve at the Hubbard and Warren farmer’s markets and the Youngstown Flea, and is always open to be booked for pop-ups and special events. Follow her on Instagram or go to her website, slowhurrycoffee.com, and sign up for a newsletter to find out where she’ll be. Contact her at 234-600-0464 or heykay@slowhurrycoffee.com
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Bortolussi announced on Aug. 20, 2025, that Slow Hurry Coffee will be moving to Boardman in October 2025.
