Sahra Nguyen
Nguyen Coffee Supply | New York
February 2019
As the child of Vietnamese refugees, Sahra Nguyen’s identity has been the driving force behind her professional pursuits, which span documentary filmmaking, writing, visual art, and hospitality entrepreneurship. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a dual degree in Asian-American studies and world arts and cultures, Nguyen worked as a video mentor at Artists For Humanity and as the director of the Writing Success Program at her alma mater. In 2012, Nguyen moved to Bushwick, Brooklyn, where she was inspired by local entrepreneurs to film the web series “Maker’s Lane,” which led to the production of NBC docuseries “Self-Starters” and her award-winning documentary “Deported.”
In 2014, Nguyen teamed up with three other first-time restaurateurs to open Lucy’s Vietnamese Kitchen in Bushwick, which has been featured in The New York Times, Time Out NY, Thrillist, and VICE. Nguyen’s current focus is on her latest project, Nguyen Coffee Supply, the first ever Vietnamese-American-owned importer, supplier, and roaster of green coffee beans from Vietnam. Although Vietnam is the second largest coffee producer in the world, Nguyen felt Vietnamese beans were being slighted by specialty coffee roasters. She aims to change this by showcasing the vibrant flavors of the Arabica and Robusta beans from her parent’s home country, while promoting Vietnamese culture globally.
Nguyen continues advocating for racial justice, diversity, and community empowerment as a storytelling strategist with podcast incubator, Listening Party, and as a Google NextGen Tech Policy Leader.
