Best Barista: Rory Van Grol (Ugly Duck)

Ugly Duck Coffee owner Rory Van Grol slings espresso.
PHOTO BY MARK CHAMBERLIN
Ugly Duck Coffee owner Rory Van Grol slings espresso.

Rory Van Grol (Ugly Duck Coffee)
89 Charlotte St.
uglyduckcoffee.com

A hardcore punk vocalist-turned caffeine purveyor, Rory Van Grol is one of those seminal Rochester characters that makes the city special, and is as much a conversationalist as he is a barista. Walk into Ugly Duck on any day of the week and you’re likely to find Van Grol toiling away among the steam valves wearing a big, jovial grin. Get him talking about coffee or stories from the local music scene and you have a surefire way to kill a few hours.

Finalists: DeeDee Krupkin (Ugly Duck Coffee) | Angelina Viglione (Fuego) | Devan Colucci (Fuego)