By Mary Owen
Sharon Ciampi admits she sometimes wears her emotions on her sleeve, but it’s her honesty and forthrightness that her customers love.
“As a business woman, you’re supposed to be happy all the time, but it’s not always like that,” she said. “Life can get pretty stressful at times, and my customers understand that.”
For years a stay-at-home mom raising four children, Ciampi credits her faith for getting her through the rough spots in her life and God for finding her that perfect job: the coffee lady at Aumsville’s Brewed Awakening.
“I started the coffee cart one year before I got divorced,” she said. “I had never worked outside of the home, so I asked God for direction. I’m here by His grace.”
Initially, Ciampi took a part-time job making ceramic molds for a company in Stayton, but eventually she injured her back and had to quit.
“But I got to know the girls at the nearby coffee cart, and they suggested I open one in Aumsville,” she said.
The idea intrigued her, and one SCORE business class later, Ciampi went from housewife to business owner. On Nov. 7, 1997, her bright red coffee cart at the west end of Aumsville’s Main Street opened for business.
“It’s actually well-suited for my personality,” she said. “When I meet people, it’s normally good for two or three minutes of good conversation. I can’t say enough about my customers and their loyalty, or my coffee man, Bert Ortiz.”
For the last nine years, Ciampi has brewed coffee, made cappuccinos, lattés and other coffee specialties, with coffee from Tico’s Coffee Roasting Co. in Sublimity.
“I attribute a lot of my success to plain ol’ good coffee from Bert,” said Ciampi, who is pleased to be supporting another local business, especially with the downswing in the economy.
She learned how to brew a good “cuppa java” from a two-hour course from another local coffee distributor and a lot of trial and error.
“It was hit or miss at first,” she said, laughing. “I was supposed to brew for 20 seconds and I was brewing for 60. My coffee was like mud. Some customers were finally brave enough to tell me about it.”
Today, more than 14 years later, regulars appear even before Ciampi opens her window for business. They love her enthusiasm and chatty conversation as much as her coffee.
“My heart’s desire is to let my little light shine,” said Ciampi, whose Christian faith and heartfelt empathy for people blend into a “kind of little ministry” at the coffee hut.
“I have a deep compassionate love for people,” she said. “People will pull up and pour out their hearts to me. When I share Christ’s love with somebody, my heart gets something back. It helps me, too.”
Ciampi is a survivor, having lived through a traumatic childhood, weathering a serious car accident in 2002, and dealing with degenerative arthritis and other health issues on a daily basis.
Running a business can be stressful, she said, but she loves Aumsville, having moved there in 1984, and enjoys interacting with customers.
“I get a lot of support from the local teachers, and that makes summer a little tougher,” she said. “I’ll miss them.”
Ciampi’s children help at the cart. Chris, 38, is an Aumsville firefighter who helps with property maintenance, a job he also does for American West. Melissa (Finchum), 36, is a student at Chemeketa Community College. Justin, 30, is a district manager for Rite Aid, and the person who gave the cart its winning name. Michael, 27, works part-time for mom, running the cart on Sundays.
“I actually made Reader’s Digest in 2000 for one of six coffee shops with cool names,” Ciampi said.
Brewed Awakening offers coffees, teas, smoothies, frappés, hot chocolate, juice, muffins and cookies as well as seasonal drinks, including apple cider when it’s cold and iced tea when it’s hot.
“We are promoting iced tea right now,” she said. “Any size cup for $1, and 25 cents more for a squirt of raspberry or peach flavoring.”
Her Chai tea smoothie and cookie frappés are two of Brewed Awakening’s most popular offerings, Ciampi said.
“I have a couple who come all the way from Salem just for my frappuccinos,” she said.
Brewed Awakening, 1025 Main St., is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Ciampi said a few additions to her menu might be forthcoming, and she and her children are putting their heads together on additionally promoting the shop.
“I really do love what I do,” said Ciampi, who invites people to come down for a “cuppa and a chat. Such a wide variety of people I come in contact with every day. It’s so rewarding!”
