OUR BEGINNING

As one of the winners of Shift Capital’s Kensington Avenue Storefront Challenge, Càphê Roasters embarked on the goal of revitalizing the neighborhood of Kensington through coffee.  Founded in 2018 by Raymond John, non-profit CEO of 12+, and Thu Pham, a Vietnamese American raised in Philadelphia, Càphê Roasters is the first and only Vietnamese specialty coffee roaster in Philadelphia, operating in the Kensington neighborhood.  We offer coffee primarily sourced from Vietnam as well as other Southeast and East Asian regions, specially roasted to deliver the best drinking experience. Càphê’s mission is to bring communities together as inspired by the common Vietnamese expression “đi uống cà phê” translating to “let’s get coffee,” which in the Vietnamese culture signifies community engagement.  

OUR COFFEE

Our Vietnamese beans are sourced from Lam Dong, Vietnam. This very special microlot comes from 38 smallholder Arabica producers living within the Central Highlands of Vietnam, all of whom farm on terrain located at 1,400 meters above sea level, which helps contribute to this coffee’s exceptional cup. The terrain in this province is locally called “Bazan Red Land” (red basalt soil) and offers the perfect conditions for growing coffee. This rich volcanic mountain soil, coupled with the highland elevations contributes to slow, even development, of the coffee cherry and ultimately, to a nutty, black tea, and floral profile.

Our Thailand beans are sourced from Pa Miang, Thailand. The beans are located at 1,500 meters above sea level, which contributes to its clean, cocoa, nutty flavor profile. Thailand is home to a blossoming coffee industry, and Elephant Nature Park has created an initiative to support local villages through coffee education. The park provides the initial coffee plants to the villages and teaches them farming and processing techniques. This new connection between the park and small scale farms has created jobs for many people, specifically women who have been marginalized. This project has empowered them to provide for their families, learn a useful skill set, and gain a voice in their communities.

OUR SOCIAL MISSION

A portion of our profits will be donated to 12 Plus, a Philadelphia education non-profit that partners with public high schools to increase educational equity.  Càphê will employ students from 12 Plus' partner schools and offer them a positive workspace that fosters a learning culture that focuses on personal and professional development.  We will partner with local businesses and food markets across the city to stimulate the growth of their businesses.  Similar to how Vietnamese coffee is made, Càphê will inspire community engagement and the bridging of cultures.