The Spruce Story
Established in 2024
Katie and AJ met in the fall of 2014 when they were both students at Arizona State University. They had English class together but discovered they also had a shared love for music, and they ended up starting an a cappella group together.
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They made such a great team that they couldn't wait to do it again! After a decade of friendship, when the opportunity came to open Spruce in the fall of 2024, they took another leap together. They are so happy to be working together again to make Spruce the best space it can be for the New Haven community they love.
Before it all started...
Just opened!
Spring 2025
AJ's bday Spring 2026
Meet the Spruce Baristas
Are you friendly and hardworking? Do you love coffee and community? Are you willing to smile through some terrible puns?
You might have what it takes to be a Spruce barista!
Submit your resume below to join the team.
Co-Owner
AJ Perez (he/him)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Oat Milk Cappuccino with Splenda and cinnamon on top
Originally hailing from Virginia, AJ loves traveling and has lived all over the country, most recently moving from Los Angeles before opening Spruce. When not steaming milk, he enjoys pickleball, working out, reading, and playing his Switch.
Barista
CJ DiPasquale (he/him)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
CJ's Cinnamon Swirl
CJ joined the barista world in September and now runs almost entirely on caffeine and vibes. When not making drinks (especially the CJ’s Cinnamon Swirl 😉), CJ enjoys hiking, working out, reading, cooking, and traveling.
Barista
Lars Boyle (they/them)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Liv Laugh Lars
Lars has been a barista for over 4 years! They're so excited to bring their love of coffee and the craft to such a wonderful community space. When they're not behind the bar, they like making music, crocheting, rock climbing, and hanging out with their cat.
Barista
Rory Ballachino (she/they)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Maple Cortado
Rory is an artist and barista in New Haven, CT. She loves music, tattoos, skating/rollerblading, and making new friends! New Haven’s been such a welcoming place for her, helping her find herself and her community, and she hopes to bring that same joy to Spruce! She can’t wait to help make you feel at home.
Co-Owner
Katie Leavitt (she/her)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Iced Raspberry Matcha
Katie is originally from Vermont and moved to Arizona for college, but has called New Haven home since 2021. When not at Spruce, she enjoys playing pickleball, crafting at MakeHaven, and doting over her two perfect angel baby cats, Piper and Minnow.
Barista
Erin Knox (she/her)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Salted Maple Latte (extra foamy!)
Erin hails from the Connecticut shoreline and is in her rookie barista year. In her spare time, she loves starting a new book, tending to her houseplants, and spending hours on the phone with her long distance best friends. She could not be more excited to start this chapter at Spruce with so many welcoming and wonderful people.
Barista
Liv Gotte (they/them)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Matcha Lemonade when it’s hot, Maple Cinnamon Flat White when it’s cold!
Liv is a jack of many trades, master of one. With a masters degree in public health, they view the role of barista as more than just a service providing coffee, but rather an integral component of community building and a critical third space for people to connect and maintain social wellness. Liv values the craft of putting love and care into food and drink while getting to know the regulars and participating in the local queer artist community here in New Haven. Originally from Louisiana, Liv loves to cook Cajun food, connect with people over traditions, and discuss cultural diversity and how it impacts our community.
Supervisor, Barista
Theo Haven (he/him)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Liv Laugh Lars
Theo has over 7 years of barista experience and working at Spruce has been the highlight of his time in coffee shops. His hobbies include reading horror/thriller novels, needle felting, drawing, and attending Trivaoke nights at Spruce!
Barista
Izzie Cossey (they/them)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Vanilla cold brew with way too much oat milk
Izzie comes from the far away land of Oklahoma. They've been working with coffee for many years and feel passionate about beans and all the connections that come with them. Izzie's other passion is their small vintage business, in which they collect beautiful oddities to share with the world. When Izzie isn't working, they fill their hours with music, crafts, and a lot of laughs.
Barista
Quiana (they/them)
Favorite Spruce Drink:
Iced Matcha with brown sugar syrup & vanilla cold foam
Quiana is a multidisciplinary artist who resides in New Haven. They currently enjoy upcycling clothes with custom linoleum block prints and patches. Their hobbies include jamming with their housemates, crocheting and practicing Mario Kart in hopes of one day beating their partner.
