Kahvi Coffee House + Cafe Opens in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
October 29, 2020 (Published: October 29, 2020)
The owners of Kahvi Coffee House + Cafe at 3830 Talmadge Road in Eau Claire have infused their new urban casual coffee shop with Scandinavian mindfulness, community and fika.
Kahvi Means Coffee
“Kahvi is Finnish for coffee,” said Co-owner and Manager April Becker. “It’s easy to be mindful while drinking a smooth cup of coffee!”
April, former owner of Hope Tree Family Therapy, started the new venture with several partners from the Eau Claire business community.
Cody and Molly Filipczak own C&M Real Estate. April’s mother-in-law Chris Becker is C&M’s managing broker. And Scott Knepper owns Trillium Commercial Realty.
Urban Chill Meets Terrific Coffee and Scandinavian Roots
Taking inspiration from Wisconsin’s Scandinavian heritage, the group designed their shop to build a sense of community and act as a gathering place.
“We wanted to combine urban chill atmosphere, terrific coffee and Scandinavian roots,” said Cody Filipczak.
Although Cody had the initial vision, he didn’t have the time to run day-to-day operations.
“Cody approached me and thought it would be a good fit to work together,” April said.
Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success
After reviewing information from Crimson Cup, April gained confidence to move forward as manager.
Through our 7 Steps to Success coffee franchise alternative, we have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs in 30 states achieve their dream of opening a coffee shop.
The program is based on the book “Seven Steps to Success: A Commonsense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee,” by Founder and President Greg Ubert.
“As an entrepreneur myself, I thrive on helping other entrepreneurs open profitable coffee shops,” Greg said. “Kahvi Coffee House + Café is a delightful example of how independent shops can be as unique as their owners, their vision and the communities they serve.”
Our consultants guide new business owners through every step of opening a profitable coffee house – from writing a successful coffee shop business plan and choosing a location to training staff and creating a marketing plan.
As part of the program, a 7-Steps trainer with extensive industry experience conducts on-site training in the week leading up to opening day.
“Not having any experience with a new build, the complete blank canvas was intimidating with all the decisions to be made – especially since I didn’t even drink coffee!” April Becker said. “Following the 7 Steps streamlined and simplified everything.”
She said Crimson Cup’s one-stop-shop approach, including equipment and initial inventory, gave her the self-assurance she needed.
“If we didn’t have Crimson Cup, I don’t think we could have made the leap to do this,” she said. “It would have been overwhelming.”
Rave Reviews for Coffee & Fika
Roasted by Crimson Cup, the coffee has earned rave reviews from local customers. “People love that there’s no bitter, burned flavor,” said Chris Becker.
One of the shop’s most popular drinks is the Fika mocha. This caramel-infused white chocolate mocha can be ordered hot, blended or over ice.
Often translated as “a coffee and cake break,” fika is a concept and state of mind embedded in Swedish culture.
“Many Swedish companies schedule time every afternoon for staff to come together over coffee and pastries,” April Becker said. “We would love to bring more people in Eau Claire together in this way.”
Adjacent to several walking paths, Kahvi Coffee offers a dog-friendly patio and snacks for pups. Designed by C&M real estate, the urban cool interior features airy spaces, ample seating and a fireplace for cold Wisconsin days. A drive-through caters to coffee-lovers on the go.
The shop also carries a unique collection of pillows, wall hangings, small bags and other thoughtful gifts.
Grand Opening Celebrations Begin November 19
Kahvi Coffee House + Café plans grand opening celebrations with $1 mochas and lattes on Thursday, November 19. The first 100 customers on Friday, November 20 can score a free Kahvi Coffee mug.
On Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22, customers can take 25 percent off retail goods. Anyone wearing blaze orange or blaze pink can also pick up a $2 mocha or latte to celebrate the opening weekend of hunting season.
Cody Filipczak says this is only the beginning for Kahvi. “We have really big goals and high expectations and hope to open many, many more stores!”
