For many college students, coffee is the first thought that comes to mind as they wake up for class. But for Ryn and Becca Pee, there is more to coffee than just the energy kick. When the MT Cup opened 18 years ago, their mother would bring the sisters in while she read poetry in the coffee house.
“We were some of the first regulars,” Becca said.
Although the duo finishes each other’s sentences and look similar, they are not necessarily identical. Born and raised in Muncie, Ryn, 22, and Becca, 24, are sisters who have worked at The Cup for a little more than a year.
Formally known as the MT Cup, The Cup reopened in April after being bought by Martin George. Still in the same Village location, The Cup offers numerous coffee brews and food.
“I have always wanted to open my own bakery,” Ryn said. “I thought working in a coffee shop would be a great learning experience. Here at The Cup, we have the freedom to bake.”
Ryn makes the muffins from scratch and prides herself on the banana chocolate chip.
Coming just in time for the cold fall weather are soups and a variety of seasonal bagels, including pumpkin and pumpkin-cranberry.
Foam art also is coming soon to The Cup to add a little spice and fun to customer’s coffee. Cats, leaves, hearts and feathers are just some of the foam art that will be offered to coffee coinsurers.
“Our next step is learning how to perfectly steam the milk to make the foam art,” Ryn said.
Working with a sibling may sound irritating or difficult for some, but this is not an issue for Ryn and Becca. They enjoy each other’s company and prefer working together, they said.
“We don’t even have to verbally speak to each other to know what we’re doing,” Ryn said. “We have a lot of chemistry.”
“Yeah,” Becca said, “It’s like we share a brain.”
When asked about the negative aspects of working together, the twosome seemed stumped. They looked at each other with a long pause and deep consideration.
“If one of us is having a bad day, it is much easier to bark at a sibling,” Ryn said. “Sometimes when we are bickering at each other at The Cup, we have to remind people that we are sisters.”
When tensions steam between these two, their love for music can help diffuse some tension.
“I’m a lot more eclectic when it comes to music,” said Becca. “I will listen to anything from Britney Spears to 90’s pop radio.”
If two siblings in one workplace aren’t enough, imagine three of them. Brendon Pee, Ryn and Becca’s older brother, started at The Cup a little over a month ago. Brendon, 25, is the cook at The Cup and said he enjoys his sisters’ company.
“They get me tips, so they make it easy,” Brendon said.
As the trio spoke about their relationship inside and outside the workplace, they could not help but laugh and look at each other for answers. They shared similar thoughts, and they often collaborated their answers with each other.
When asked for advice for other sibling alliances in the workplace, Brendon looked at his sisters for guidance in an answer.
“Don’t let family drama affect your work,” Brendon and Ryn said simultaneously.
“One negative about working with each other is that they annoy the crap out of me, but that comes along with being the oldest,” Brendon said. “I’ve had to deal with it forever.”
For the sisters, describing each other with one word did not require any hesitation.
“Ryn is neurotic,” said Becca. “She is very particular. She is almost Woody Allen-esque, but in a very endearing way. She is very charming.”
The pair chuckled at Becca’s response. Ryn’s one-word description was expressed with admiration for her older sister.
“She is awesome,” said Ryn. “It was the first word that popped into my head. I don’t know how to describe it; Becca is just a fun person.”
This sister duo is not hard to find; customers are guaranteed to be greeted with at least one friendly smile from a Pee sibling.
For more information about the edible delights at The Cup, check out the menu, which can be found online at www.cupinthevillage.com.
