Barista Bio's

So you can get to know us a little better.

Mark Balogh

since Jan. 1997, Owner
Mark is most-known on campus for his Catch-Phrase, "Can I help you PLEASE," but most known at Coffee House as "the guy who signs your checks."  While Mark is here every morning, you will rarely see him in a Coffee House t-shirt because he is always sporting a college shirt or sweatshirt from his vast collection.  He seems to have a story about every major city in the US and has seen all the major classic rock bands back-in-the-day.
Drink Go-To: Coffee w/sweet n'low

Anna Hoffman

since May 2022, General Manager
Anna is our always smiling general manager and jack of all trades! She's been with us since May of 2022, and loves caring for all of our customers, both the new and our beloved regulars :) Anna is currently settled in Eastlake, where she shares 3 young boys with our very own pastry chef, Kevin!  Over the past 20 years, she’s worked at various well known restaurants and bakeries throughout Cleveland. She takes pride in every one of our soups, which she lovingly makes herself.
Her favorite day is Halloween, she loves horror films and heavy metal :) Her coffee drink of choice? Toddy with oat milk and toasted marshmallow syrup. 
 

Karoline Szczepanek

since May 2012, Junior Manager
She graduated from Cleveland Institute of Art in 2015 with a BFA in Interior Architecture, an architectural drawing and design program.  She spends most of her time outside of work reading, and is always ready to talk books and give/accept recommendations. She reads a book a week and listens to at least 3 audio-books each week. When she isn't reading, she's probably tearing apart her apartment and putting it back together, but she calls it renovation.
Drink Go-To: Flavored Drip Coffee w/half & half, but she's always inventing new drinks and switching things up.