Crafting Comfort & Care

Tomoko Fushimi

Culinary Beverage Designer | R&D Specialist
📍 Milwaukee, WI
✉️ tomoko@satori.coffee | 📞 920.512.4231
🌐 satori.coffee

Summary

Rooted in the spirit of kaizen (改善) — constant refinement — I design advanced beverage experiences using food science, sensory strategy, and a deep philosophy of care. With over a decade of experience across roasting, barista training, drink development, and visual storytelling, I bring a systems-driven and imaginative approach to creating multi-layered beverage programs. My work is guided by omotenashi — wholehearted hospitality — and a commitment to elegant, purposeful flavor design.

Professional Experience

  • Discourse Coffee – Head of Innovation

    Milwaukee, WI | Dec 2024–Present

    • Lead signature drink innovation across locations, balancing creative R&D with cafe execution
    • Developed Pabst Theater Group collaboration menu (2025)
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  • Fitzy’s Café – Lead Training Barista

    Milwaukee, WI | Mar 2024–Dec 2024

    • Refined coffee program and implemented advanced barista training modules
    • Developed seasonal drink menus: concept, sourcing, costing, and prep design
    • Mentored staff on technique, flavor theory, and guest service
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  • Pilcrow Coffee – Head Roaster

    Milwaukee, WI | Jun 2022–Mar 2024

    • Created and adjusted roast profiles for retail and wholesale
    • Led QC cuppings and large-scale production roasting
    • Supported beverage bottling, cold brew production, and bar developme
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  • Stone Creek Coffee – Master Barista / Educator / Technician

    Milwaukee, WI | Jul 2018–Jun 2022

    • Managed café operations and financials
    • Trained new hires, led internal education, and mentored baristas
    • Supported tech service and wholesale equipment installs
    • Assisted in production and shipping
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  • Starbucks – Shift Lead / Store Educator / Barista

    Milwaukee, WI | Nov 2014–Jul 2018

    • Barista Champion (Store Level) 4 years in a row
    • Placed 4th in district barista competition (2018)
    • Educated new partners in hospitality and workflow
    • Worked at the highest-volume café in the district, near Miller Park (~1000 drinks/day)
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Skills & Tools

Flavor Identification

Deep sensory memory and technical tasting ability; adept at identifying nuanced ingredients in food and beverage (e.g. soy lecithin, skim mozzarella, botanical oils)

Menu Development

Expert in R&D processes, costing, ingredient sourcing, and scalable prep

Coffee Roasting

Profile creation, cupping, QC, and high-volume production experience

Sensory Science & Culinary Technique

Use of advanced food science, emulsions, syrups, tinctures, powders, oils, and fermentation to create layered flavor experiences

Media Production

Menu photography, Photoshop, After Effects, and video design for storytelling

Technical & Admin

Spreadsheet fluency, Google Suite, recipe building, workflow systems

Certifications

Barista Hustle (10 Certifications)

  • Barista Hustle – Advanced Coffee Making
  • Barista Hustle – Advanced Espresso
  • Barista Hustle – Barista 1
  • Barista Hustle – Coffee Quality Control
  • Barista Hustle – Immersion
  • Barista Hustle – Milk Science
  • Barista Hustle – Latte Art
  • Barista Hustle – Percolation
  • Barista Hustle – Terroir
  • Barista Hustle – The Water Course

ServSafe Certified – Food Safety

Language & Cultural Proficiency

Japanese (日本語) – Beginner (JLPT N5 equivalent)

Currently studying with a focus on hospitality and beverage-specific vocabulary. Actively building conversational ability, service language, and cultural fluency related to omotenashi, culinary practices, and industry-specific communication.

Education

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) – Photography Program (Incomplete)

Experience applied toward beverage media, menu imagery, and visual design