HI FI ESPRESSO
Welcome to our “Good Design” series.
We interview inspiring creatives and business owners on their good design.
Meet Hi Fi Espresso owners Karen and Jeff Prugh.
What is it about some spaces that make you want to linger? Good design, good vibes, and amazing product seem to be the key ingredients that make Hi Fi Espresso stand out. I met with Hi Fi owners Karen and Jeff Prugh to chat good design, inspiration, and how they got into the coffee business.
When meeting Karen and Jeff it is quickly apparent they are creatives with great style. Before Hi Fi was born, Karen went to both fashion and beauty school. After finishing fashion school at 19 she wasn’t ready to get a corporate fashion job. She decided to go to beauty school, worked as a hairstylist and eventually opened a salon.
Jeff had a deep love for film, went to film school and worked as an independent film maker.
Karen introduced Jeff to good coffee while dating. They fell in love with good coffee and coffee culture while living in New York. When Karen became pregnant the couple decided it was time to move back to the west coast to be closer to family.
Not wanting to continue their careers in hair and filmmaking on the west coast, they brainstormed what their next career moves might look like. One thing that struck them was the coffee scene, it was not as built up as in New York. Driving down PCH one day, a for lease sign caught Jeff’s eye. It was time to take a leap of faith and open Hi Fi Espresso in Hermosa Beach. They leaned in and learned everything they could about coffee.
When designing their new storefront Karen and Jeff drew inspiration from the 70’s, their favorite films, and easy coastal living. Their favorite filmmaker PT Anderson played a part in the inspiration behind the Hi Fi name. There’s a great scene in Boogie Nights where Buck is explaining Hi Fi and that it means highest quality.
Everything in the Hi Fi Espresso space is the highest quality. From the beans they roast to the ceremonial grade Matcha, its all Hi Fi.
Karen and Jeff often find inspiration through traveling and exploring new places. Jeff is inspired by the unexpected-a unique color combo or an unexpected design choice. Karen often finds inspiration through fashion and vintage.
A few stand outs on the menu are “Ceremonial matcha, “The Espresso Fizz” Double shot of espresso, tonic water, & orange wedge over ice, “The Conversation” (named after the 70’s Coppola film) Maple cinnamon nut butter with sliced strawberries and bananas, drizzled with hot honey, on sesame whole wheat sourdough toast and “The Overnight Oats” Bob’s Red Mill organic rolled oats, blueberries, granola, maple syrup, and lemon (Vegan, GF, DF)
Good design that leaves your patrons feeling uplifted is always a win. “Be Good” is a saying you will find around the Hi Fi space. It’s a saying that Karen and Jeff often heard from their families and said to customers in the early days. Be good, take care of yourself. The love they have for design, attention to detail and community is felt in all of the Hi Fi locations, be good.
Check out Hi Fi Espresso here
Photography by Alexis Peterson- find her here