Meet the Cleaners & Coffee Family
- Elena Bauermeister
- May 25
- 4 min read
Updated: May 28
Your favorite dry cleaners/tailor/specialty coffee shop just got even cooler.
Welcome to the Cleaners & Coffee blog, your new spot for updates on events across both shops, dry cleaning insider info, and plenty more.
For our first post, we're formally introducing you to our team! Some of us have been together for almost two decades, but we also have some incredibly exciting fresh faces onboard this year!
Has
The man. The myth. The legend. The brain that birthed Cleaners & Coffee. Has grew up in his dad's dry cleaners, helping out in his spare time and getting up to no good on the streets of Camden. After six years working in luxury goods in Scandinavia and Benelux, Has moved back to the UK with an idea and lots of convincing to do.
Originally from North London, he's lived and worked in Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden, but the coffee culture and design aesthetics of Scandinavia left their mark on him. The inspiration behind the industrial aesthetic in the shops very much lends itself to the working and buzzing vibe of Camden/Kings Cross, a tangible feeling when you walk into the stores.
In his (admittedly, very little) spare time, Has is passionate about exercise and travel. (He also doesn't smile in photos, despite years of trying to make him)
Favorite drink: Double espresso. Classic.
Kaz
All of our journeys here started with Kaz at Crowndale Dry Cleaners in 2003. Kaz moved to London at age 10 and lived in Enfield. He's been married for 40+ years, and is proud father to Has and his five sisters, as well as 10 cheeky grandkids.
He's been everyone's favorite dry cleaner for 22 years now, and knows just when to crack a joke. He hates cinnamon, loves tuna, and was affectionately known as Ace during his tenure as production manager at a polyliner factory in the 90s. When he's not in the shop, he's with his grandkids, fixing anything that breaks, and gardening with his wife.
Favorite drink: Single shot oat flat white, with just a dash of honey (such a diva!)
Elena
Originally hailing from Chicago, Elena has lived in the UK for just under four years and runs our Camden branch. She grew up moving around a lot, and has lived in 17 places across 6 countries. She graduated from UCL in September 2024, and has been running the Camden Rd branch ever since.
In her free time, she enjoys crochet and embroidery, the classic seasons of Jersey Shore, and cold-water swimming.
Favorite drink: Filter coffee in the morning, matcha in the afternoon
Malaika
I'm sure by now we're all familiar with the wunderkind of Cleaners & Coffee, the one and only Malaika! Originally from London, she's currently a business management student at Greenwich University. Malaika's been with us just under two years, and is famous for her insane milk steaming skills.
In her spare time, she enjoys going to music gigs and photographing anything and everything aesthetic. This June, she's spending three weeks traveling South Korea, and will be sure to bring back lots of stories and skincare products.
Favorite drink: Oat flat white with a touch of honey
Maya
Originally from Lewisham, Maya grew up in Florida before coming back to the UK for college. When she's not pulling espresso shots, she's working in the studio as an audio engineer! Her love of fashion, service, and good music have led her to Cleaners and Coffee, where she continues to explore her passions and skills. Ask Maya what the question of the day is and you’re sure to walk away laughing, thinking, and sipping a delicious coffee.
Favorite drink: Honey Cinnamon Matcha
Miyoung
And last, but not least, for our FOH team we have Miyoung! Originally from Seoul, she started rocking our Crowndale coffee bar in March. With an educational background in fashion, she loves exploring charity shops in her spare time, as well as lying in the grass on sunny days. We definitely all feel underdressed when she's in the shop. She would also like to add that "all Koreans love iced americanos!!"
Favorite drink: Pistachio matcha with dairy milk
Although you see our baristas the most, they're only half the team! Here's a rare peak behind the glass door into the stories of our BOH team, the engine that keeps Cleaners & Coffee running.
Malik
Malik might be the class favorite for everyone on the team, his eternal optimism, determination, and constant efforts to keep us all well-fed are integral to our operations. Originally a dairy farmer from Lahore, he's been working with Kaz for the last 10 years. If you've ever had a stain removed with us, he's the man to thank. A proud father of 2, and grandfather of 2, Malik always has photos to share. When he's not at the back of house, he's at home with his family, cooking, and playing with his grandkids.
Favorite drink: Iced lattes in the summer, and English breakfast tea with 2 sugars and steamed milk in the winter
Maria
Maria is originally from Funchal, a town in Madeira, Portugal. She's lived in London for almost 40 years, and has been working with Kaz for around 20 of those. Their Tom & Jerry dynamic keeps us all amused throughout the week, although when she's not working she enjoys traveling for a relaxing holiday, her favorite spot so far being Dubai. If you listen closely, you're likely to hear her, Kaz, and Malik bickering, laughing, and gossiping just behind the glass door at Crowndale.
Favorite drink: Caramel latte
Ijaz
Ijaz is our in-house tailor, likely to be spotted working on the sewing machine at Crowndale, or using one of our specialist machines at the back. Ijaz has been working with textiles since he was 8 years old. He doesn't just repair and alter clothes, he enjoys painting on denim in his free time to combine art and fashion. If you've had your trousers hemmed, rips patched, or zipper replaced with us this year, he's the man behind the scenes making it happen.
Favorite drink: 50% Mocha
And that's the team!
Stay posted for lots more Cleaners & Coffee content to come...
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