With eclectic decor and a cozy, two-story layout, Potheads Coffee is beginning to take shape as it prepares to open in Roxborough.
Owners Chris Watson and Jim Roberts, along with Mo G., the emoji mascot, will operate the cafe at 7620 Ridge Ave.
“We looked at first starting an online e-commerce store. We started branding through there. But then, this place kind of fell to us. We decided to switch gears. It’s a perfect opportunity and the neighborhood really needed this,” Watson told What Now Philadelphia.
The cafe will serve classic drip coffee and espresso drinks, including lattes and macchiatos. Coffee lovers can expect signature drinks such as “Raspberry Truffle,” a chocolate and raspberry latte; the “Cinnamon Toast,” made with spiced brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon; “Bananarama Bliss,” a banana latte topped with whipped cream, caramel sea salt and a chocolate drizzle.
“A unique thing we’re offering is 10-ounce coffee flights. It’s four flights of specialty menu items. They’re going to change periodically. They’ll be themed. For example, we’ll have a Valentine’s Day flight,” Watson said.
Customers who purchase a 24-ounce Potheads Coffee tumbler can bring it back to the cafe for $1 drip coffee refills.
“Every day, we’re going to have light, medium, dark, decaf, and then one of our flavors. Right now, we have about 13 to 14 different flavors. We actually have about 40 in our back pocket, so we’ll be adding them as well,” Roberts told What Now Philadelphia.
Each flavor is playfully illustrated on the cafe walls alongside Mo G. Other offerings include “Scout’s Honor,” a mocha mint depicted by a Girl Scout; “Caramelot,” a salted caramel coffee featuring a knight; and “Tiffany’s Breakfast,” a breakfast blend represented by Audrey Hepburn.
Potheads Coffee’s food menu will include breakfast sandwiches, croissants, bagels, muffins, cheesecake, yogurt and soft pretzels. The cafe also plans to cater to the lunch crowd in the future, offering personal pizzas and soup.
Another future addition could be a liquor license, allowing the cafe to offer boozy coffee-inspired cocktails, especially amid the espresso martini craze, and to collaborate with local distillers.
The interior of Potheads features a traditional cafe on the first floor, comfortably seating up to 25 guests. Upstairs, a lounge area is designed like a cozy living room–a home away from home to enjoy coffee and light fare.
The lounge can accommodate individuals working from home or hosting meetings, thanks to a conference table. Watson and Roberts also plan to use the space for events such as book signings, live music, Quizzo, podcast recordings and even watching Philadelphia sporting events on the several TVs throughout the area. Potheads seeks to be a third space.
“We’re always believers in the community owns this place. We administer their place for them,” Watson said.
The duo and future employees are eagerly anticipating the opening of the new space.
“The enthusiasm from the staff we’ve hired; they’re so excited about what this place is and what it’s set out to be,” Watson said.
Potheads Coffee began six years ago in Bensalem, founded by Watson and his sister-in-law, Faith Noga.
The pair have since taken separate paths, with Noga recently opening her own cafe in Jenkintown alongside business partner Maggie, and Watson now preparing to launch the Roxborough location with Roberts. Their mission of creating unique coffee experiences remains unchanged.
Potheads Coffee plans to debut in Roxborough in early 2026, though Watson and Roberts have not announced an exact date. Visit the website or follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest update.
