Un Caffè | Our Story
A career built around the perfect cup
Un Caffè is the result of one person's deliberate, years-long pursuit of everything coffee can be. Founder Soonkack Kook didn't stumble into the industry — he reverse-engineered it, credential by credential, cup by cup.
From software engineer to barista
Soonkack spent a decade in IT before pivoting to coffee — first at Starbucks to learn high-volume ops, then at Houston's top specialty shops to learn the craft from the inside.
Every credential that mattered
He earned his Q Arabica Grader certification, SCA Authorized Trainer (AST) status, CTechP, and the SCA Coffee Skills Diploma — credentials quietly displayed on the walls of Un Caffè.
Building the shop on Milam
Soonkack opened Un Caffè Premium Roastery at 3217 Milam Street equipped with a Probat P12 roaster, a Slayer Steam espresso machine, and a Ground Control brewer — a playground for serious baristas.
The coffee, always fresh
Every bean is sourced ethically and roasted on site. Online orders ship the next day — what arrives in your cup is as close to the roaster as it gets.
The Cheers of coffee shops
Eater Houston described Un Caffè as "the Cheers of coffee shops" — a come-as-you-are Midtown spot for serious coffee, espresso classes, latte art workshops, and weekend pop-ups.