Who We Are v2
On the left, we have Kyle Stewart, a dedicated instructor for the Specialty Tea Institute (STI), the exclusive tea certification program officially endorsed by the Tea Association of the USA. Kyle proudly holds the distinction of being the very first Certified Tea Specialist (CTS) in Texas, and among the pioneers worldwide. His unwavering passion for teaching has earned him recognition for teaching excellence, acknowledged through the prestigious World Tea Awards.
Originally hailing from Woodbine, Iowa, Kyle's educational journey took him through the realms of music, where he studied at Iowa State University, Tanglewood, and Northwestern University. While teaching Music and Arts & Humanities at Alverno College, his fascination with exploring diverse cultures and world travel ignited. Frequent voyages across Asia and Europe exposed him to the profound connection between a nation's tea rituals and its culture, a revelation that fueled his passion further.
With this knowledge, Kyle regularly imparts his wisdom to chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists, enlightening them on the art of tea pairing with culinary delights and incorporating tea as a versatile ingredient in recipes and cocktails. His engaging tea talks have graced esteemed platforms such as Fortune 500 companies, Southern Methodist University, Dallas Museum of Art, Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas, the World Tea Expo, and TEDxSMU.
In 2019, The Cultured Cup achieved the remarkable distinction of being named the Best U.S. Tea business at the World Tea Awards.
On the right, we introduce Phil Krampetz, our resident coffee expert. Phil's journey took him to the coffee plantations of Costa Rica, where he delved deep into the "seed-to-cup" quality control process. His in-depth understanding of coffee's growth and roasting process stems from this immersive experience. Originally hailing from New York, Phil's eclectic background encompasses a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Industrial Management. He honed his skills at various international companies before discovering his true passion in small business and customer relations, where he excels in offering exceptional coffee, tea, and chocolate experiences.