Team.

Umeko Motoyoshi

EXTERNAL BRAND

Umeko Motoyoshi is a founder, marketer, and coffee expert with 18 years of experience. Starting as a teenage barista, Umeko managed cafes and repaired equipment before moving into coffee education for top brands like Blue Bottle Coffee. A licensed Q-grader, Umeko leveraged their sensory skillset and equipment background to develop manufacturing processes for instant coffee brand Sudden Coffee. In 2018 they founded Umeshiso and created the acclaimed Little Dipper cupping spoon. As a brand and marketing consultant, Umeko has crafted strategy, campaigns, and content for industry leaders like Fellow, Baratza, Rancilio, Cimbali, Miir, and Sprudge. Umeko founded u&me to build hit brands and drive coffee businesses to icon status.

Eric Grimm

INTERNAL BRAND

Eric Grimm is an industry changemaker with 16 years in coffee. As a thought leader on community development and human resources, Eric has spoken and trained professionals globally, Eric arrived in coffee as a barista before moving into community engagement and brand-building. They have pushed sea changes through their pioneering work with The Chocolate Barista, Glitter Cat Barista, and Ghost Town Oats, and created smash hit coffee events for brands such as Nike, Meta, Google, and Cadillac. A certified HR professional, Eric founded The Coffee Human Resource in 2024. At u&me, Eric helps coffee businesses thrive while fostering inclusive environments for employees and communities.

Jessica Caisse

MARKETING

Jessica Caisse is an artist, marketer and coffee industry veteran with 19 years of experience. Jess has done it all in coffee, starting as a roaster and barista at iconic brands like Blue Bottle Coffee, before founding her own coffee brand, Eureka Coffee. As a marketing and branding authority, Jessica has worked with some of the most recognized names in the industry. From her brand development work at Fellow, Peet’s, and Slane Whiskey, to her role as Marketing Director at Mother Tongue Coffee, Jessica's keen eye for aesthetics and storytelling has helped coffee’s best-known brands capture the attention of millions.

Arielle Rebekah

PROJECT OPS

A trailblazing figure in coffee, Arielle has transformed the industry with their passion and drive since 2015. Starting as a Starbucks barista, Arielle moved into leadership then founded their consultancy, Trans & Caffeinated. An expert in communications, operations, and project management, Arielle has worked with brands like Trade, Cafe Cà Phè, Three Keys, Fellow Products, Atlas Coffee Importers, and Sprudge. Alongside their groundbreaking work in coffee, Arielle is a powerful advocate for the transgender community, delivering trainings nationwide to build safer, more equitable environments for trans and nonbinary individuals. As the driver behind u&me's operations, Arielle propels us forward, building long-term success into all they touch.

Our Story.

u&me is a celebration of coffee excellence and collaboration. Assembled by Umeko Motoyoshi of Umeshiso, this is an agency unlike any other in the industry. Our partners and associates have a combined 100+ years of experience with unique specialties, huge successes, and plenty of awards and citations. It also helps that everyone involved is stunningly hot and funny.

u&me believes that the next generation of coffee businesses will be inclusive, accessible, and excellent. We have built brands that are colorful, eye-popping and upend the stale norms of coffee branding. Through energetic and empathetic collaboration, u&me helps coffee business owners realize the grandest and most resonant vision of their brands.

To work with us, please contact us below.