How a Former Finance Pro Built a Specialty Coffee Brand

Ever wondered what drives someone to walk away from a six-figure salary and a prestigious career to chase a craft they love? For Lin Ling, that leap meant trading the corporate finance world — complete with a master’s degree, ACCA certification, and a job at US Bank of State Street — for the unpredictable, hands-on world of coffee and pastry. This is the story of how she built Berry Boutique Coffee from a 27-square-meter storefront into a respected specialty coffee destination.

In short: Lin Ling quit a $100,000-plus finance job in 2012, trained in France and China, then co-founded Berry Boutique Coffee in 2013 with her husband (who also quit his $50,000 job). They expanded their skills via research trips to the US and Japan, relaunched as Berry Specialty Coffee in 2014, and have since built a loyal following rooted in quality and global coffee knowledge.

From Finance to Freshly Ground

Lin Ling graduated with a degree in business English and earned both a master’s degree and the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualification while studying at London Metropolitan University. By 2009, she had landed a role at US-based State Street Bank. But despite the prestige and salary, coffee and pastry became her true passion. That shift led her to leave finance behind in 2012.

She first traveled to Le Notré in France to study pastry and baking. Then, she enrolled in a coffee school in Wuhan run by well-known coffee figure Wang Sen to learn the ropes of running a café. Her husband soon joined her journey, leaving his own high-paying job behind, and together they committed fully to the coffee life.

The First Shop: A 27-Square-Meter Start

In 2013, the couple opened their first shop, “Berry Coffee,” in a tiny 27-square-meter space right by their home. The shop quickly built a loyal local following thanks to their hands-on approach and fresh perspective. Just a year later, they had established a solid customer base — but they weren’t done learning.

Driven by curiosity and a desire to improve, the pair embarked on a self-guided research trip across the United States and Japan. Their goal: to connect with leading coffee professionals and bring back insights to raise their game.

Research Trips and Global Inspiration

The couple drove down the West Coast of the US, visiting key cities including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Along the way, they met with three of the most influential names in the American third-wave coffee movement: Intelligentsia Coffee, Counter Culture Coffee, and Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

After the US leg, they traveled to Japan, where they visited roasting expert Koeshima and world latte art champion Junichi Yamaguchi . These experiences exposed them to cutting-edge techniques, roasting philosophies, and latte art standards that were shaping the global specialty scene.

When they returned home, they knew it was time for a change. In 2014, they relocated the shop and rebranded it as Berry Specialty Coffee — a name that better reflected their evolved focus on quality, craftsmanship, and specialty-grade coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Lin Ling do before opening Berry Boutique Coffee?

Lin Ling worked in finance, earning a master’s degree and ACCA certification from London Metropolitan University, and was employed at US Bank of State Street. She held a high-paying job with a reported six-figure salary before deciding to leave in 2012 to pursue coffee and pastry full-time.

Where did Lin Ling train before starting her coffee shop?

She trained in pastry at Le Notré in France and studied coffee shop operations at a coffee school in Wuhan run by Wang Sen. Her husband also quit his job with an annual salary of around $50,000 to join her in the coffee venture.

What US coffee shops did Lin Ling visit during her research trip?

During their road trip across the US West Coast, Lin Ling and her husband visited the three major third-wave coffee shops: Intelligentsia Coffee, Counter Culture Coffee, and Stumptown Coffee Roasters, stopping in cities like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Who did they meet in Japan and what did they learn?

In Japan, they visited roasting expert Koeshima and world latte art champion Junichi Yamaguchi . These meetings gave them insight into advanced roasting techniques and professional latte art, further shaping their coffee knowledge.

Why did they rename the shop to Berry Specialty Coffee?

After their international research trips in 2014, the couple felt their original name no longer represented their focus on high-quality, specialty coffee. They relocated the shop and renamed it Berry Specialty Coffee to better reflect their new direction and commitment to the craft.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Specialty Brewing

For fans of Berry Specialty Coffee’s journey into quality-focused brewing, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera — a bright, floral Ethiopian single origin with notes of jasmine and citrus, ideal for pour-over. Pair it with FrontStreet’s PWN Golden Mandheling, a classic Indonesian offering with deep body and earthy sweetness, perfect for French press. Or explore the Kenya Little Tomato, known for its bold berry acidity and wine-like complexity. All beans are roasted to highlight origin character. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.