It started with a craving...

When the pandemic canceled Michelle's long-awaited trip to Vietnam, she found herself craving one thing most: a proper cà phê sữa đá. Unable to find the authentic, bold flavor she remembered from family visits, she teamed up with her childhood best friend, Stanislav—a self-proclaimed coffee nerd—to recreate it at home.

What started as a passion project quickly became a mission. They discovered that truly authentic Vietnamese coffee was surprisingly hard to find, with many cafés serving ordinary coffee sweetened with condensed milk instead of traditional Vietnamese coffee.

Determined to change that, they partnered directly with a third-generation family-owned farm in Vietnam, sourcing 100% robusta beans that are traditionally butter-roasted for the rich, bold flavor Vietnamese coffee is known for.

Today, Daybreak brings that authentic experience—from bean to bottle—so more people can discover Vietnamese coffee the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Meet the Team:

Michelle Tu, Co-Founder & CEO

Hi! I earned my Ph.D. in cell biology from UC Davis and B.Sc. in biomedical engineering from UC Irvine. I'm super passionate about science and medicine, but my true love lies in creative design and brand-building. I've previously founded two consumer product goods companies, a skincare line and a home goods business.

Outside of Daybreak, you can find me bingeing true crime podcasts, perfecting my nail art skills, or adventuring with my family!

Stanislav Kroll, Co-Founder & COO

Hello! I completed my business degree at UC Berkeley (go Bears!) and soon after I joined a young manufacturing company. I helped grow the company over the next 15 years, ultimately becoming a partner. I'm obsessed with numbers, and constantly searching for ways to improve efficiency and optimize processes.

In my free time, I enjoy tinkering in the machine shop, photography, surfing, and of course, coffee ;)