Yuri Volkman
Twins Barista Wyre and Barista Erick overcame early tragedy to build a successful coffee academy, and now they are shining on the national platform Despite losing both parents under heartwrenching circumstances, the twins exemplified resilience and hope in the face of adversity The journey of the two young men inspired others to believe in a brighter future, no matter the challenges faced, and they are also helping to grow the careers of other people Nairobi, Kenya: Kenyan twins Edwin Waire Nyambura and Erick Mburu Nyambura are now the proud owners of a barista school many miles from where they grew up in poverty and without their parents, and it is not a small feat.
Wyre and Eric, who are now owners of a school. Photos: Eric and Wyre.
Source: UGC A barista is a trained professional who prepares and serves espresso-based as well as brewed coffee beverages. The term loosely translates to bartender, but it has since evolved to a coffee artisan who specialises in roasting, brewing, and latte art.
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Eric disclosed that they were born in 2004 as premature twins, and Wyre weighed only 900 grams, while Barista Erick weighed 1 kilogram.
“From the very beginning, our lives were a miracle; when we were only two months old, our father sadly took his own life. Our mother, Nancy Nyambura Waweru, was left to raise five children alone: Jeremiah Waweru, Robert Maina, us twins, and our younger sister Lydia Wambui,” he said. The young shared that from there, life was never easy, and their mother struggled every day to provide food, clothing, and education for them. Despite the hardships, she taught them perseverance and hope.
“At the age of 16, while we were still in secondary school, our mother became seriously ill with cervical cancer, and during our Form Two year, she passed away. Suddenly, five children were left without both parents and we faced many challenges,”he said. Eric said that food was scarce, school fees were difficult to pay, and even basic necessities became a daily struggle. Through the kindness of relatives, friends, and well-wishers, they completed high school education. After high school, their uncle Rev. Kamau Waweru and aunt Pastor Margaret Mirithu brought them to Nairobi.
The twins show off their family members. Photos: Wyre and Eric.
Source: UGC How was life for Erick and Wyre in Nairobi? “We believed life would become easier, but reality was different; we had no jobs, connections, and clear direction. While in Nairobi, the pair was introduced to Christian life through the guidance and support of Rev. Kamau Waweru, the lead pastor of U Church International Thika, and Pastor Margaret Mirithu. Their spiritual mentorship strengthened the faith of the young men and helped them remain hopeful during difficult times.
In 2023, they started their first hustle as hawkers in Githurai, selling bottled water. Some days, they earned only KSh 20 to KSh 50 and later sold onions in Murang’a county and eventually worked as shoe brokers in Githurai
“By God’s grace, Erick joined Karumo Technical College to pursue Food and Beverage, while Wyre continued hustling to support daily needs. In 2024, Wyre joined a Barista Course, graduated successfully, and secured his first job at Swahili Plate as a Junior Barista,” said Eric. “Financial difficulties later forced Barista Erick to leave college and seek employment, where he worked as an Assistant Chef. Eventually, he also trained as a barista. Wyre later became a Head Barista Trainer, training aspiring baristas for one and a half years,”he shared. Brew Masters Academy workers. Photo: Eric and Wyre.
Source: Facebook Driven by passion and purpose, the twins founded Brew Masters Coffee Academy, a school dedicated to training future baristas and creating opportunities for young people. Before launching the academy, they also created Coffee Gossip 45 Club, an online platform that promotes coffee culture through conversations, podcasts, and community engagement.
Later, they launched Twin Cup Journey, a campaign where they visit coffee shops, review coffee experiences, and provide constructive feedback while promoting coffee culture across Kenya. Today, their story proves that circumstances do not define destiny. Despite losing both parents, facing poverty, hunger, and uncertainty, they never gave up.
“To anyone who feels like quitting: your current situation is not your final destination. Keep believing, working, praying, and moving forward. This is a testimony of resilience, faith, and hope,” said Barista Wyre and Barista Erick. Kenyan millionaires from humble backgrounds In another story, James Mwangi rose from being a goat herder to becoming managing director and group chief executive officer of Equity Bank with a 5% stake.
Chris Kirubi, who died at 80, would be remembered for rising from being a poor orphan to a respected business magnate.
On her part, Tabitha Karanja is the founder of Keroche Breweries and is regarded as one of the greatest female entrepreneurs in Kenya.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Authors:
Susan Mwenesi (Human-Interest editor)
Susan Mwenesi is a Human Interest editor. She studied Journalism and Public Relations at TU-K, International Center for Journalists’ Early Childhood Development Reporting, Google News Initiative Training on Advance Digital Reporting, Fighting Misinformation, and Experimenting with New Formats (2024). In 10 years, Susan has worked at K24, Baraka FM, Health Media,TechMoran. She is a Bloomberg Media Initiative, National Geographic, International Centre for Journalists, KICTANet, AKU Graduate School of Media, Communications Digital ABC training by WAN-IFRA fellow. Email: susan.mwenesi@tuko.co.ke
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