Thu Pham
Càphê Roasters | Philadelphia
FEBRUARY 2024
The importance of serving others was introduced to Thu Pham at a young age. After graduating from Drexel University studying consumer behavior, Pham was at a crossroads. She was accepted into the school’s MBA program, but after reflecting on the values instilled in her by her parents, Pham decided to go down a different path. She accepted a position at 12+, a Philadelphia non-profit that partners with local high schools to empower students to pursue education beyond 12th grade. Working as a site director and then fellow at Kensington Health Sciences Academy for three years, Pham felt fulfilled counseling and building relationships with students.
During a company outing, Pham’s colleagues noticed a flier asking for small businesses to set up shop in the Kensington neighborhood and help revitalize the community. Growing up around Vietnamese coffee culture her entire life, Pham was looking to combine her love of service and her interest in coffee. So, in 2018, alongside business partners Abraham Kwon and Raymond John, they signed a lease on what would become Càphê Roasters. After scouring the internet and diving into all things coffee, she taught herself everything she could about roasting, practicing her roasts at her parents’ house in the evenings until she was eventually popping up around the city.
In 2021, after creating a strong wholesale arm to her business and distributing her roasts across the country, Pham felt ready to transition Càphê Roasters into the next phase: a cafe serving Asian cuisine and coffees, celebrating Vietnamese-style coffee in particular. Càphê Roasters has become a neighborhood hotspot, and a portion of every sale is donated to 12+. With thoughtful food and drink and the help of a tight-knit, welcoming staff, Pham hopes to create job opportunities for 12+ students and alumni, while fostering a connection with the community at large.
