In a surprising career pivot, David Cogen, a well-known tech YouTuber behind TheUnlockr, has opened a coffee shop in Brooklyn called Coffee Check. This new venture marks a significant departure from his 13-year career as a creator, where he has built a reputation for reviewing phones, testing ebikes, and explaining complex tech topics.

Cogen's coffee shop, which has been open since late August, is not just a casual business endeavor. It's a thoughtfully designed space that combines his love for tech and coffee, featuring a fully functional production studio that can be rented by other creators and companies. The studio is equipped with a kitchen, where Cogen plans to film kitchen gadget reviews for his YouTube channel.

In an interview on The Vergecast podcast, Cogen shared the story of how he turned his passion for coffee into a business, and how he's navigating the challenges of balancing his content creation career with his new role as a coffee shop entrepreneur.

This unusual career pivot raises interesting questions about the intersection of content and commerce, and whether creators can successfully monetize their passions without losing their authenticity. Cogen's experiment will be closely watched by the tech and startup communities, who will be eager to see how he navigates these uncharted waters.