As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Krisztian and Yuliana.
Krisztian and Yuliana, Co-Founders of Barista2Go, blended their European–Asian roots and shared passion for sweets, specialty drinks, and unforgettable experiences to reimagine the art of mobile catering. Based in Sydney, their venture brings a premium café experience directly to events—transforming coffee breaks and dessert moments into stylish, memorable highlights.
With Krisztian’s background in corporate events and Yuliana’s expertise as a corporate strategist with a creative flair for food, the duo serves corporate clients, luxury brands, event planners, and private hosts who want more than just refreshments—they want atmosphere, artistry, and connection.
From branded espresso carts to colourful matcha creations and handcrafted artisan sweets, Barista2Go curates every detail to align with each client’s aesthetic, vision, and occasion. Whether it’s a product launch, wedding, conference, or private celebration, their focus is not just on taste but on crafting moments that linger long after the last sip.
In this interview, she offers a candid look at the realities of entrepreneurship, sharing both the challenges and the victories that defined her path.
What inspired you to start your business, and what problem were you passionate about solving?
I started Barista2Go because I wanted to reimagine how people experience coffee and desserts at events. For centuries, food and drink have been at the heart of human connection—scientists even show that eating together triggers endorphins, the very chemistry that underpins bonding and relationships.
For me, coffee and tea have always been more than beverages; they are rituals of connection. My Chinese heritage instilled in me the deep importance of the tea ceremony, a tradition that symbolizes respect, gratitude, and unity during family gatherings. Later, in my 25 years of corporate experience, I saw the same truth in a different setting—business deals and partnerships were often sealed not in boardrooms, but over dinners, coffees, and shared experiences.
I wanted to bring that passion for connection into the corporate catering world and elevate how brands show up at conferences, activations, and events. Hospitality had long focused on service, but I saw an opportunity to add another layer: emotional and sensory experience. People rarely remember information, but they always remember how something made them feel. When a brand can engage all five senses, it creates an impression that lingers far beyond the event.
That vision is what transformed Barista2Go into what it is today—a mobile, premium, and memorable service that goes far beyond “just another coffee cart.” We create moments that spark conversation, ignite curiosity, and turn everyday coffee and dessert into experiences guests carry with them long after the event ends.
How has your business evolved since its launch, and what key decisions have helped drive that growth?
Since launching, Barista2Go has grown from intimate private gatherings to premium corporate activations and large-scale conventions. A pivotal decision in that growth was positioning ourselves not merely as caterers, but as experience creators.
We partner closely with event organisers, brand strategists, and corporate marketers to design emotionally charged, sensory-driven brand experiences. Our coffee carts are equipped with digital displays, giving clients high-impact brand visibility through images and video. On the culinary side, we’ve invested in artisan desserts and culturally inspired flavours—from taro cannoli to strawberry matcha—that can be tailored for unique brand alignment.
These choices have elevated our offering into something far beyond standard coffee catering—transforming Barista2Go into a premium platform for connection, creativity, and unforgettable brand storytelling.
In your view, what truly sets your brand apart in today’s competitive market?
In today’s crowded market, what truly sets Barista2Go apart is our commitment to creating sensory brand experiences, not just serving coffee. We combine premium hospitality with cultural creativity, introducing artisan desserts like pandan waffles and matcha soft serve that spark curiosity and align seamlessly with a brand’s identity.
Our coffee carts also double as high-impact branding platforms, equipped with digital displays for images and video that bring campaigns to life in real time. By blending taste, sight, sound, and emotion, we transform ordinary catering into immersive experiences that guests remember and brands are proud to be associated with.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to date, and why do you think it worked so well?
Our most effective marketing has come from loyalty and word-of-mouth. Every time we deliver an exceptional experience, our clients become our biggest advocates, one satisfied customer often brings several new ones.
For example, we recently partnered with Libertine Perfume to launch their new Matcha & Milk fragrance series. We created a branded matcha latte cart for the event, designed to immerse guests in the scent and flavour story behind the perfume. The activation was a huge success, and the marketing manager was so thrilled that she has since shared her experience with her wider network, leading to multiple new opportunities.
That’s why this strategy works so well: authentic experiences leave lasting impressions, and our clients’ success stories naturally become our most powerful marketing tool.
How do you stay connected to your ideal audience and understand their needs or behaviors?
We stay connected to our ideal audience by working closely with event organisers, brand managers, and corporate marketers, the people who know exactly what impact they want to create. Every project starts with understanding their vision, whether it’s a product launch, a conference, or a brand activation. From there, we design experiences that align not only with the event goals but also with the emotions they want their guests to walk away with.
We also pay attention to the feedback loop that happens in real time at events. Watching guests light up when they try something like our artisan dessert and specifically crafted drinks, tells us what resonates most. Those live reactions, along with post-event feedback from clients, give us powerful insight into behaviours and preferences—helping us refine and innovate continuously.
What’s one branding move or campaign that helped elevate your business to the next level?
One branding move that really elevated Barista2Go was introducing our culturally inspired fusion desserts as part of corporate activations. When we unveiled creations like the taro cannoli and strawberry matcha lattes at high-profile events, it shifted how people saw us. We were no longer just a mobile coffee service, we became known as innovators delivering sensory brand experiences.
A standout moment was our collaboration with Libertine Perfume for the launch of their Matcha & Milk fragrance. By aligning our drinks with their scent story, we created an immersive activation that connected directly with their brand identity. The success of that campaign not only delighted their guests but also positioned us as a go-to partner for brands wanting to create unforgettable, shareable experiences.
What does success look like for you, not just in numbers, but in purpose or impact?
For me, success goes far beyond numbers, it’s about the impact we create through moments of connection. At Barista2Go, success looks like seeing people light up at an event, sparking conversations, and knowing we’ve helped a brand create an experience their guests will remember. It’s about building bonds, whether over a cup of coffee, a dessert, or an activation that tells a story.
This belief also carries into my podcast The Affluent CEO Show, where I share conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders. I’ve always believed that transformation happens one conversation, one event, and one interaction at a time. Success, for me, is helping others rise, whether that’s a client whose brand activation exceeded expectations, or a listener who found clarity and courage from a single episode.
Ultimately, success is measured in the ripple effect of connection: when one moment we create inspires another, and then another, until it becomes something much larger than us.
How do you personally define success, beyond revenue and growth metrics?
I define success as living in alignment with my values, connection, creativity, and contribution. Beyond revenue, success for me is about the moments that can’t be measured on a balance sheet: the smile of a guest discovering a new flavour, the excitement of a client whose brand activation exceeded expectations, or the message from a podcast listener who felt inspired to take the next step in their journey.
To me, success is when the work I do creates a ripple effect, helping others rise, sparking conversations that matter, and leaving people better than when they first crossed paths with me. It’s about building something meaningful and lasting, not just profitable.
Can you share a challenge or setback that ultimately became a turning point for your brand?
One of the biggest challenges we faced early on was differentiation. The market was crowded with mobile coffee carts, and at first, Barista2Go risked being seen as “just another coffee service.” It was frustrating because I knew we had more to offer, but the message wasn’t clear enough.
That challenge became the turning point when I leaned into what made us truly unique: fusion flavours, cultural storytelling, and sensory brand activations. Introducing desserts with a fusion twist, like ube match, not only delighted guests but also positioned us as innovators. Suddenly, we weren’t competing on coffee alone; we were creating immersive brand experiences.
That pivot transformed Barista2Go’s identity and opened the door to larger clients, premium partnerships, and repeat bookings. What started as a setback ended up shaping the brand into what it is today.
What daily habits or rituals keep you focused, creative, and grounded as a leader?
My daily rituals are what keep me anchored as a leader. Every morning, I start with grounding practices, journaling, and visioning, this helps me clear my mind, set intentions, and stay connected to the bigger picture of why I do what I do. These simple yet powerful habits fuel both my creativity and my focus.
I also embody my SHIFT™ framework each day, which allows me to step into the identity of the leader I’m becoming and scale with ease rather than stress. It’s about aligning energy, strategy, and mindset so that growth feels effortless and exponential. By beginning my day this way, I ensure I’m not just reacting to business demands but leading from a place of clarity, purpose, and grounded vision.
How do you approach innovation and risk in your business strategy?
I approach innovation with the mindset that creativity and calculated risk go hand in hand. For me, innovation means daring to introduce something unexpected, like fusing taro into a classic cannoli or creating strawberry matcha lattes for a perfume launch and trusting that curiosity will spark connection.
When it comes to risk, I don’t see it as something to avoid but as something to manage with intention. I test ideas in smaller settings, watch how audiences respond, and then scale what works. This way, every risk is grounded in real feedback rather than guesswork.
Ultimately, my strategy is to keep pushing the boundaries of what coffee and dessert catering can be, while making sure each innovation aligns with our purpose: creating memorable, sensory brand experiences that last far beyond the event.
What advice would you give to someone starting a business in today’s fast-changing digital world?
Don’t be afraid to stand out by leaning fully into what makes you different. In a world overflowing with options, your story and your unique perspective are your greatest assets. Authentic experiences and genuine connections are what people remember; digital tools can amplify them, but they can never replace them.
Most importantly, begin by redefining who you are and what you’re here to contribute. When your business is aligned with your soul’s purpose, growth feels natural and expansive. That deeper alignment doesn’t just build a business, it creates a legacy that fulfills both your vision and your destiny.
Where can our audience connect with you and learn more about your work or offerings?
You can find our website and follow us on Instagram, where we share behind-the-scenes moments, sensory creations, and upcoming events.
