PARTNER spotlight: Lussi brown
We are so excited to feature our friends at Lussi Brown who have been holding it down in the heart of Lexington, KY for nearly a decade.
Led by owner & founder Sarah Brown, the Lussi Brown team is made up of some of the most warm, welcoming, and genuinely fun people we know — and they’ve consistently served up some of the best coffee and cocktails around. At its core, Lussi Brown is a space where community is celebrated, diversity is embraced, and judgment simply doesn’t exist. These values have earned them a reputation as a daily go-to for so many Kentuckians. Sarah’s deep care for people is evident in the way she supports her team, creating meaningful opportunities for growth, learning, and the exploration of individual passions. Cheers to Sarah and the entire Lussi Brown crew — we’re incredibly proud to partner with them and highly recommend stopping by the next time you’re in Lexington. Check out our interview with Sarah below!
Lussi Brown owner & founder Sarah Brown
Can you tell us the story behind your business: how it started and what inspired you to open?
Lussi Brown is really a product of the Lexington community. Olivia and I were working together as baristas at Coffea around 2014, and the idea for our own shop actually started with our post-shift drinks. We were right next door to a liquor store and after adding a few shots of Baileys to our coffee, we realized these two worlds - really good coffee and spirits - belonged together.
We pitched the concept to some friends & regulars and the support was overwhelming. That local momentum fueled our Kickstarter and gave us the foundation to build the space we wanted for Downtown Lexington.
“How would you describe your approach to coffee & what does quality mean to you?”
In this industry, anyone can put ingredients in a cup, but the magic happens in the details. We focus on the knowledge and craftsmanship behind every layer of the drink. That meticulous approach to balance is our signature, and it’s why our customers trust us and why they keep coming back.
“What role does hospitality play at lussi brown?”
At Lussi Brown, our philosophy is simple: 'Come in, buy a drink, be kind, and enjoy the moment.' We’ve built a space where a CEO and a drag queen can sit at the same bar and both feel entirely at home. That’s the true beauty of the downtown Lexington community. For us, hospitality isn’t just about a friendly greeting; it’s about providing a meticulously crafted product in a space that feels both cozy and inclusive. We offer a judgment-free atmosphere where everyone, from artists to attorneys, can find a sense of belonging and sip one of the damn finest cups of coffee they’ll ever have.
“Your shop is in Lexington, KY where you all have been a cornerstone of the coffee community for quite some time. How has the Lexington coffee community evolved over the years and where do you hope to see it go?”
Since starting my barista journey in 2009, I’ve seen Lexington evolve from having a few key hubs to becoming a truly sophisticated coffee destination. Lexington is growing every day, and we’ve been honored to be at the forefront of this locally focused culinary wave. Opening in 2017, growing our business from nothing, navigating the challenges of staying open through the pandemic - it’s all placed us in a unique position to become a cornerstone of the downtown scene. All these factors have allowed us to really step up and show the Lexington coffee community what a modern, hybrid concept could be.
Moving forward, I hope to see the city continue to lean into new & creative concept shops that blur the lines between traditional categories without losing their quality. My vision is for Lexington to remain a place where independent shops aren't just surviving but are thriving in our local economy and culture.
“You also operate a cocktail bar in the evenings in the same space. How do the coffee and cocktail programs complement each other? ”
We’ve always felt that the creative energy behind a great coffee shop is identical to that of a great cocktail bar. At Lussi Brown, these two worlds don't just coexist, they complement each other. Our deep knowledge in coffee allows us to experiment with unique coffee, spirits, and flavors that you won't find anywhere else. We wanted to create a space where the 'morning ritual' and the 'evening wind-down' feel like part of the same story. It’s all about the care behind the ingredients, and our customers appreciate that the same level of knowledge goes into their morning latte as their evening Espresso Martini.