Elsa Keeps Steamers Coffeehouse Running Smoothly

Four days a week, Elsa Lombardi gets up early to catch the bus at 6:30 AM to go to work, and she couldn’t be happier. “I wish I could work five days a week,” Elsa expressed. “She’s always on time and hates to miss work,” her supervisor Athan Miller added. Elsa works as an assistant barista at Steamers Coffeehouse, helping with everything from making coffee and food to clearing the tables. Her favorite part of the job though, is making coffee.

“Elsa does the coffee all on her own. If she’s not here to do it, I might forget,” Athan said. Elsa measures out the exact amount of coffee beans, runs them through the grinder, and then puts them into the coffee brewer. She also keeps an eye on the coffee pots to make sure they get replaced with fresh coffee as soon as they run out. In addition, Elsa has learned how to make a variety of food that the café sells to patrons. She preps ingredients for breakfast burritos, and she can quickly whip up smoothies for customers. “They’re so easy to make,” she declared.

Elsa has been working at Steamers for two and a half years now, and she receives job support through Denver Options’ Supported Living Services program. “Elsa was the very first person we hired,” Athan shared. “She came into the interview and laughed, and I thought it was the best laugh I had ever heard, so I knew I had to hire her.” Athan, who is the owner and program director at the coffee shop, had worked as a social worker prior to opening Steamers. Her husband originally suggested the idea of buying a local coffee shop and hiring people with developmental disabilities in 2007. Steamers now employs 23 adults with disabilities.

Because Elsa has been working at Steamers Coffeehouse since it opened, she’s gotten to know many of the regulars, as well as her coworkers. “The customers say hi to me,” she shared. Elsa is also a huge Broncos fan, so during football season she chats with the customers about her favorite team. “We really appreciate all her hard work,” Athan expressed. “Any time something needs to be done, Elsa does it. This place doesn’t run without her.”

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Learn more about Denver Options’ adult services.
Learn more about Steamer’s Coffeehouse.