Lauren Ziehwein, who has worked at Constellation Coffee since it opened in July, makes a latte. Photos: Chris Emeott
Discover the guiding light behind an Apple Valley coffee shop.
Constellation Coffee, nestled in an unassuming office building in Apple Valley, is serene. Aside from the occasional whirr of the espresso machine and soft conversation, it’s quiet. Artwork featuring stars and galaxies (a nod to the shop’s name) adorns the walls. Acoustic panels help dampen noise, and no music is piped through the speakers. A young woman named Lauren Ziehwein greets customers cheerfully, taking orders and handing out a playing card in lieu of a number. “When you hear ‘nine of diamonds,’ you can pick up your drink down at the end of the counter,” she says.
The coffee is delicious.
This peaceful spot, designed by and for people with autism and other sensory-related needs, is more than just a coffee shop. Founder Liza Robson and manager Carrie Wetzler have an important mission: to provide meaningful employment for young adults with autism and other neurodiverse conditions. And the mission is personal.
“The idea really started with my son, Matty, who’s on the autism spectrum,” Liza says. Matty Robson is now a junior at Landmark College in Vermont—and thriving—but when he was younger, his mom often worried about what the future would hold for him and his peers. While there are many programs to support children with special needs in school, opportunities often dwindle as they age out of the system. “We decided that offering trainable skills to help kids on the spectrum or with other learning disabilities could help them find jobs,” Liza says.
Liza Robson and Carrie Wetzler
Wetzler met the Robsons 20 years ago when she first started working as Matty’s live-in nanny and aide. A few years ago, she and Liza started brainstorming ideas for a business that could serve as both a supportive workplace and a welcoming community hub for young adults like Matty. A coffee shop seemed like a natural fit—with lots of roles that can be cross-trained, and opportunities to interact with customers and practice social and work skills.
The shop had its soft opening, to give the baristas a way to ease into the routine, last July. After some publicity in the local news, Constellation was busy with a full slate of customers by fall. The shop currently employs around a dozen high school students and young adults from the Apple Valley area.
“We’ve got one manual espresso machine and one that’s a little more automated, for different abilities,” Wetzler says. “Our drink recipes are all printed out. And we put a lot of thought into the coffee shop.” Wetzler selected a rubber floor and chairs that have curved, sled-style bases instead of legs that scratch and squeak. There’s a calm space for employees to take breaks. Half of the baked goods are allergen- and gluten-free, since many folks with autism also have food allergies and sensitivities.
After all, the shop is not only for the young adults who work there. “I’ve got a lot of families who come in with adult children who have disabilities and special needs, and they feel comfortable here because nobody looks sideways at them,” Wetzler says. Parents of younger children with autism know they’ll find information and support at Constellation, too. Wetzler and Liza curate a resource corner with books and magazines, and there are plush armchairs (the “soft chairs,” as Matty called them when he visited coffee shops with Wetzler as a little boy) in addition to table seats.
Ziehwein, who has worked at Constellation since it opened, enjoys her work. “I like drink making, but I also like doing cashier,” she says. “I like to multitask.” She also enjoys learning about new drink recipes from customers, like a recent request for a London Fog Latte, and socializing with her coworkers.
Ziehwein always remembers to mention Constellation’s punch cards, whereby customers can get a free brewed coffee with every 10 punches, and often wraps up conversations with her signature catchphrase: “Have a starry day!”
Constellation Coffee
14800 Galaxie Ave. Suite 100, Apple Valley; 952.952.5448
Facebook: Constellation Coffee
Instagram: @constellationcoffeeshop
