RECognition: Jenna Kim, TEC Cafe

Recreation's monthly series to highlight our fabulous staff

By Shawn Cyr

Of all the drinks Jenna Kim is tasked with making, one in particular stands out: the honey lavender matcha.

“It's a longer process to make than most other drinks because we have to whisk the matcha and warm up the honey, but it's so worth it,” says Jenna, who bestows the title of “best drink ever” on the popular green, earthy delight.

Whipping up and dishing out drinks to (and chatting with) everyone who comes through the ordering window at Triton eSports Center (TEC) Cafe is Jenna’s favorite part of her Lead Barista role. She joined Recreation in 2022 and, at this point, has served up everything on the menu — and a few things that might not be.

“I love to make all our drinks and don't really dislike anything,” says Jenna, a fourth-year cognitive science major in Sixth College specializing in neuroscience. “Except one time, someone ordered an iced cappuccino, which was very odd, but kind of fun to make.”

“I just think it’s counterintuitive because the steamed foam melts the ice.”

And she would know. TEC Cafe Manager Marcela Galan has only glowing things to say about Jenna’s expertise and demeanor.

“She is a hard worker, keeps busy, loves to clean and organize, takes initiative, is friendly, and a great barista,” Marcela says.

When she’s not supplying fellow students and UCSD staff members with their daily caffeine fix(es), Jenna likes playing REC’s intramural sports — such as dodgeball, even though her TEC Cafe team lost “literally every game, but it’s OK because we still had lots of fun” — and traveling.

One of Jenna’s bucket list travel spots is Iceland, she says, where “the sun never sets during the summer.” She also relishes spending her free time — you guessed it — “cafe hopping.” Her favorite off-campus spots include Palmy’s Cafe at Pacific Beach, Blue Whale in La Jolla, and Saigon Coffee in North Park.

“I recently became an avid coffee drinker because I'm just so sleep-deprived and my go-to fix for that is the most basic (but still delicious) iced vanilla latte with oat milk,” she says.

Thankfully, there’s no whisking required.