ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After years of anticipation, drivers on St. Pete's busy 4th Street can now get a taste of the fresh brews and homemade pastries from beloved local chain Kahwa Coffee.
Kahwa's newest St. Pete store opened Thursday at 6601 4th Street North.
Made from two shipping containers, the coffee shop offers a unique drive-thru and walk-up-only experience for caffeine lovers on the go.
“It’s a small store but I think the speed that we have to be able to serve people fast is an advantage. If you’re in a hurry to get a good coffee and a good pastry and get going, it's the spot to go to," owner Raphael Perrier told 10 Tampa Bay.
Perrier, says he feels "fantastic" now that the 4th Street location is finally open, but the journey to get here wasn't so smooth.
The store's opening was delayed by four years due to a multitude of different obstacles owners Sarah and Raphael Perrier faced.
“It was challenging because first – it was a container store. We’re not really used to that in the area. Second of all, a lot of things happened in the last three years," Perrier explained.
Those things include starting the project in 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and dealing with the city's staffing challenges that came with it.
According to Perrier, "It was just a perfect storm" — literally.
The Kahwa Coffee owners went through two hurricanes while building the store, which also led to complications with FEMA regulations and flood-proofing.
Despite the hurdles, Kahwa's drive-thru is in full swing on 4th Street, ready for new and regular customers alike. And if you're thinking of stopping by, Perrier gave some recommendations for what to try first.
"Our lattes, our cappuccinos, our espresso are really the signature drinks for us. We have a fantastic Italian-style espresso which goes well with milk," he said. "One thing we’re really well-known for is our Frech croissant with real butter which is absolutely amazing."
“We also have an almond croissant which Tampa Bay Bakery does for us. The almond croissants are just insane," Perrier added. "And then the breakfast sandwiches on the croissant are just to die for."
Kahwa Coffee's 4th Street location is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
