Our Story

Founded in 2018 by wife-and-husband team Thu Pham and Raymond John, Càphê Roasters is the first and only Vietnamese specialty coffee roaster in Philadelphia.

Càphê Roasters was built on the belief that coffee has the power to bring people together and strengthen community. That belief was realized when Thu and Raymond won Shift Capital's Kensington Avenue Storefront Challenge, a competition focused on revitalizing the neighborhood.

Thu, a Vietnamese American raised in Philadelphia, envisioned a gathering place that celebrated Vietnamese culture with the nostalgic flavors of her childhood. Raymond, founder and CEO of the educational nonprofit 12 Plus, saw an opportunity to create meaningful employment for the students and alumni his organization supports. Together, they imagined a café where great coffee could also create opportunity.

Inspired by the Vietnamese expression "đi uống cà phê," an invitation to slow down and connect, Càphê Roasters has grown into an award-winning café and roastery, recognized as a James Beard Award semifinalist, with its coffee proudly served in restaurants, cafés, and homes across Philadelphia and beyond.

OUR COFFEE

We source our coffee primarily from Vietnam, along with other Southeast and East Asian regions, with a focus on quality

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Our signature Vietnamese beans come from a very special microlot in Lam Dong, grown by 38 smallholder Arabica producers in the Central Highlands, 1,400 meters above sea level. The region's terrain, known locally as "Bazan Red Land" for its red basalt soil, creates ideal growing conditions: rich volcanic soil paired with high elevation allows the coffee cherry to develop slowly and evenly, resulting in an exceptionally smooth and clean cup.

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All of our coffee is roasted in small batches onsite in Philadelphia. We roast our Vietnamese beans specifically for cà phê sữa, traditional Vietnamese coffee, drawing out their signature almond-like, chocolatey character.

COMMUNITY AND 12+

Càphê Roasters proudly supports 12 Plus, a college and career readiness nonprofit serving high-school students across Philadelphia and Camden.

We donate a significant portion of our profits to 12 Plus and employ students and alumni from its partner schools, providing meaningful jobs, mentorship, and opportunities for professional growth.

We also partner with local restaurants and small businesses throughout Philadelphia, because we believe thriving communities are built together. Whether we're serving coffee, creating opportunities, or sharing Vietnamese culture, our goal is always the same: to inspire connection and leave our community stronger than we found it.

A portion of our profits is always donated to 12+

Donated to 12+ and local non-profits

3/4 Càphê Roasters employees attended Philadelphia public schools

Three-quarters of our team members are graduates of the School District of Philadelphia and 12+ partner schools. They are baristas, roasters, chefs, and managers—early in their careers and trusted with real responsibility from the start. Over time, they have helped shape not only how we operate, but the standard we hold ourselves to as a company.

At its heart, Càphê's vision is to inspire community engagement and bridge cultures — the same way Vietnamese coffee has always brought people together.

Càphê Roasters is proud to be the first and only Vietnamese specialty coffee roaster and cafe in Philadelphia. The connection is not financial alone—it is personal and operational. A portion of proceeds helps sustain 12+’s work, and the café itself is one of the places where that mission comes to life every day.

FIND OUR COFFEE

You can also find Càphê coffees—both brewed and as whole beans—in Philadelphia and beyond.

find Càphê in stores