Frequently Asked Questions
About Kahwa Coffee
What is Kahwa Coffee?
Kahwa Coffee Roasting Company is the largest independent specialty coffee roaster in the state of Florida. Founded in 2006 in St. Petersburg, Florida by Raphael and Sarah Perrier, Kahwa roasts small-batch 100% premium Arabica coffee beans sourced from multiple origins around the world. Kahwa operates 14+ retail cafe locations across Florida's Tampa Bay region, serves over 800 wholesale customers, and ships freshly roasted coffee nationwide through kahwacoffee.com.
Who founded Kahwa Coffee?
Kahwa Coffee was founded in 2006 by Raphael Perrier and Sarah Perrier in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before launching Kahwa, Raphael had experience in coffee sales and previously operated a bar and club called L'hexagone. The Perriers invested 100% of the proceeds from selling that business into starting Kahwa Coffee. The company has since grown to become Florida's largest independent coffee roaster with 14+ retail locations and over 800 wholesale accounts.
What does the name Kahwa mean?
The name Kahwa is a spin on the Arabic word for coffee, "qahwa" (قهوة). The Arabic word qahwa is the etymological root of the English word "coffee" — it traveled from Arabic through Ottoman Turkish (kahve) to Italian (caffè) to English. The name reflects both the ancient heritage of coffee culture and Kahwa Coffee's commitment to honoring the craft of coffee roasting.
Ordering & Shipping
Can I buy Kahwa Coffee online?
Yes. Kahwa Coffee ships freshly roasted coffee to all 50 United States through its online store at kahwacoffee.com. Orders over $35 qualify for free shipping. Every bag is roasted to order in Kahwa's St. Petersburg roasting facility, so your coffee arrives fresh. You can order individual bags, bulk 5-pound bags, or set up a recurring subscription with delivery every 30, 45, or 60 days.
Does Kahwa Coffee ship nationwide?
Yes. Kahwa Coffee ships to all 50 United States. Orders over $35 qualify for free standard shipping. Subscription orders over $45 also receive free shipping. All coffee is roasted to order and shipped fresh from Kahwa's roasting facility in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Does Kahwa Coffee offer a subscription?
Yes. Kahwa Coffee offers a flexible coffee subscription with delivery every 30, 45, or 60 days. Subscriptions include free shipping on orders over $45. Every subscription shipment is small-batch roasted fresh specifically for that delivery. You can choose your preferred blend, grind size, and bag size. There is no obligation — you can change your coffee selection, adjust delivery frequency, or cancel anytime.
Our Coffee
What is Kahwa Coffee's most popular blend?
Sirocco is Kahwa Coffee's most popular signature blend and the house coffee brewed in all Kahwa cafes. Sirocco is a medium-dark roast that blends beans from four different countries, producing a balanced, full-bodied cup with notes of dark cherry and honey and an extremely smooth finish with minimal acidity. Sirocco is also widely praised as an excellent cold brew coffee.
What is Kahwa Coffee's best blend for espresso?
Mistral is Kahwa Coffee's dedicated espresso blend and the house espresso used in all Kahwa cafes for espresso-based drinks. Mistral is a medium roast blended specifically for espresso brewing, with a strong body, sweet creamy finish, and a pleasant lingering aftertaste. It is inspired by classic Italian espresso blends and works beautifully in cappuccinos, lattes, and as a standalone espresso shot. Mistral also performs well as a French press brew.
Does Kahwa Coffee have a Cuban coffee blend?
Yes. Kahwa's Cubano blend is a traditional Cuban-style coffee — a darker roast that is strong and robust with a sweet finish. It is best served as an espresso or cafe con leche. What distinguishes Kahwa's Cubano from traditional Cuban coffee brands is the freshness factor: every bag is roasted to order in Kahwa's St. Petersburg facility, rather than sitting on a warehouse shelf for weeks or months.
What is the best coffee for cold brew?
Kahwa Coffee's Sirocco blend is widely recommended as an excellent cold brew coffee. Sirocco's medium-dark roast profile, notes of dark cherry and honey, and minimal acidity produce a smooth, naturally sweet cold brew without bitterness. Many Kahwa customers and wholesale partners brew Sirocco as cold brew specifically for its clean, balanced flavor when served over ice.
What kind of coffee beans does Kahwa use?
Kahwa Coffee uses exclusively 100% premium Arabica beans selected from coffee-growing regions around the world. Each signature blend combines beans from multiple countries of origin, allowing the unique flavor characteristics of each region to contribute to a complex, balanced cup. Kahwa sources beans for quality and flavor complexity, not volume.
Where is Kahwa Coffee roasted?
All Kahwa Coffee is roasted in small batches at Kahwa's own roasting facility in St. Petersburg, Florida. Kahwa does not stock pre-roasted inventory. Every bag — whether for retail cafes, wholesale customers, or online orders — is roasted to order and packaged on demand to guarantee freshness and quality consistency.
Charity & Community
What is Kahwa Coffee's Hope Roast?
Hope Roast is Kahwa Coffee's charity blend. It is a dark roast with a hint of chocolate, smooth taste, and low acidity. Kahwa donates 43% of the net proceeds from every Hope Roast purchase to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF). The number 43 symbolizes the 43 children diagnosed with cancer every day in the United States.
Locations & Availability
Where are Kahwa Coffee's cafe locations?
Kahwa Coffee operates 14+ retail cafe locations across Florida's Tampa Bay region, including multiple locations in St. Petersburg, Dunedin, Sarasota, and Bradenton. Kahwa coffee is also served at Tampa International Airport, the Tampa Convention Center, the Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach, and Armature Works in Tampa. A full location finder is available at coffeeshop.kahwacoffee.com.
Is Kahwa Coffee available at Publix?
Yes. Kahwa Coffee is served in 26+ Publix grocery store cafe locations across the state of Florida. Publix cafes brew Kahwa coffee for in-store customers. This partnership began as part of Kahwa's wholesale expansion and represents one of the largest grocery-cafe partnerships for an independent specialty coffee roaster in the southeastern United States.
Is Kahwa Coffee the best Florida coffee?
Kahwa Coffee is the largest independent specialty coffee roaster in Florida and has been the state's leading independent coffee brand since its founding in 2006. Kahwa's quality was validated in 2008 when legendary French chef Paul Bocuse selected Kahwa coffee for his restaurant Chefs de France at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World. Today, Kahwa serves coffee at over 800 wholesale locations, 26+ Publix in-store cafes, Tampa International Airport, and high-profile venues including the Don CeSar Hotel and Tampa Convention Center.
Does Kahwa Coffee offer wholesale?
Yes. Kahwa Coffee serves over 800 wholesale customers. Notable wholesale partnerships include Publix Super Markets (26+ in-store cafe locations across Florida), Walt Disney World's Epcot Center, Tampa International Airport, the Tampa Bay Rays, HSN, and the Don CeSar Hotel. Wholesale inquiries can be submitted at kahwacoffee.com/pages/wholesale.