We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Asia Coffee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Asia below.

Asia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I received my degree from Purdue in Interior Design in 2009 and was grateful to be hired full-time from an internship I had at the time. I was working as a Designer for two years when I got the idea to make a nice birthday cake for my son’s upcoming birthday. On the recommendation of a work colleague, I attended a few cake decorating classes at a local cake supply shop. Everything changed when the instructor (also the shop owner) leaned over and said, “You’re really good at this. Have you thought about teaching?

About a year later, I had become a Wilton Method instructor teaching at a retail store. A few years into it, I was teaching at three different locations. I did this all while maintaining my career as an Interior Designer. Also during this time, I uploaded a few videos to YouTube. I learned a cake decorating technique that I simply wanted to share with others, so I didn’t have any expectations around building a YouTube channel. I committed to being consistent with my content in 2020 and never looked back!

Fast forward to 2025, and I’ve appeared on season 3 of Food Network’s Holiday Wars cake decorating competition and my YouTube channel (featuring cake decorating tip, tricks, tutorials and commentary) has over 100,000 subscribers. I took a chance with a creative outlet, and it’s changed my life tremendously! I’m still excelling at my career as a Senior Interior Designer and have even branched out into teaching as a limited-term lecturer at Purdue University Indianapolis. Through my experience with my cake decorating endeavors (especially being on national TV), I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to, especially things that seem difficult.

Asia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I shared a lot in the previous question.

I’m the owner of Cakes by Coffee. Though I make cakes, cupcakes, etc., teaching cake decorating techniques is my primary focus. I teach in-person cake decorating classes in Indianapolis. I also have a YouTube channel tailored to anyone who’s interested in learning cake decorating techniques (even very basic techniques like how to frost a cake).

I’ve been teaching since 2013, and I believe this sets my YouTube channel apart. I’m able to explain things in an understandable way. I bring the in-class experience to my audience on YouTube.

I’m proud of my cake decorating talents, but I get the most enjoyment by helping others along their cake decorating journey!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When Wilton discontinued in-person Wilton Method Instruction in retail stores in early 2018, I was at a crossroad. I had to choose whether or not to continue teaching. I decided to keep going by finding co-working spaces from which to offer classes.

When I was filming Holiday Wars, I received word that the space where I was teaching was closing. I was back in the same boat, but I managed to find another location to teach.

I joined a shared commercial kitchen a few years ago. I’ve been teaching classes there and experimenting with some different concepts. I found out recently that it will be closing in December…. I’m back in the same boat, a transient cake decorating instructor without a “home” and not by choice.

I won’t give up! I always find a place to land.

Being a YouTube content creator is much the same. It takes dedication and perseverance to keep going when views are low and/or when you lose subscribers.

Things are always changing. Resilience and focus are key to persevering.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to help as many people as possible along their cake decorating journey, wherever it may take them! This is what fuels and guides my journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cakesbycoffee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mrs.CoffeesCakes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CakesbyCoffee
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-coffee-rid-ncidq-a1821331/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/AsiaCoffee

Image Credits

Leah Rife of Leah Rife Photo is the photographer for my headshot.