Local coffee brand, Kahwa Coffee, is gearing up to open two more company-owned locations – one at 400 45th Ave S in St. Petersburg that’s due to open early spring, and another on Tampa Rd in Oldsmar – before launching their franchise program with another five outposts, according to co-owner Raphael Perrier.
“We’re excited to be in the downtown area,” Perrier tells What Now Tampa of the St. Pete location. “It will have inside seating and drive-thru at the same time, so it’s going to be pretty fun. It’s going to be a good location we feel.”
At the time of publication, What Now Tampa had been unable to reconnect with Perrier to learn more details about the Oldsmar outpost and franchise operation.
However, in a statement published by local media outlet, St. Pete Rising, Perrier said, “We are planning on focusing on Florida to start with for the first year and then we will expand our territories after that,” adding, “We want to ensure our franchisees are successful as we grow and feel this is the best way to do that.”
Since its founding in 2006, Perrier – along with wife and co-owner Sarah Perrier – has opened 15 shops around the greater Tampa region, alongside a retail and wholesale operation, making it the “largest independent coffee roaster in the state of Florida,” according to the company’s website.
The website goes on to explain, “Kahwa’s reputation is built on quality and consistency of the product. 100% premium quality Arabica beans are selected from different origins around the world, these beans are then blended and skillfully roasted to produce a complex flavor that allows each origin to yield its most distinct palate.”