By Amanda Theisen

Jenny and Savio Nguyen both grew up enjoying traditional Vietnamese coffee drinks with their family and friends in Minnesota. But it wasn’t until a trip to Seattle in 2022 that the couple visited their first Vietnamese coffee shop.

“I never even knew they existed,” says Jenny. “I always thought it was something you’d find at a Vietnamese restaurant or something you’d make at home.”

The Minneapolis couple spent much of that trip trying out a few different Vietnamese coffee shops highlighted by local influencers.

“It was just so cool to see our people and our culture displayed in a unique way, not in just food but, specifically, only coffee,” Jenny says.

On their way home, the couple discussed how cool it would be to have a similar type of coffee shop in the Twin Cities. It took them about a year of discussion, research, building partnerships and sheer courage to take the leap into owning their own Vietnamese coffee business.

“Every time we think about a trend, we’re always at the tail end of it,” says Savio. “So, we decided to jump in now.”

Building a Loyal Following

Savio and Jenny first launched Càphin (pronounced like caffeine) as a trailer operation in the summer of 2023. They built their initial following at local farmers markets, including Midtown and Mill City in Minneapolis. From there, they were invited to breweries, outdoor festivals, private events, pop-ups, and local businesses.

While they served traditional coffee drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos, Savio and Jenny really leaned into the traditional Vietnamese coffees, flavors and drinks. Some of those include:

• Cà phê sữa đá: iced coffee sweetened with condensed milk.
• Cà Phê Trứng (or egg coffee): iced coffee made with whipped egg yolks and sugar, creating a creamy, custard-like topping.
• Cà Phê Muối: robusta coffee topped with salted caramel cold foam.
• Cà Phê Lá Dứa: a latte infused with pandan, a flavor with notes of vanilla and coconut, common in Southeast Asian desserts.

Jenny says it was fun to see the expressions of their customers when trying their drinks for the first time.

“It was a really good reaction,” she says. “Most people don’t want to show their reaction, but I think it was one of those things where they couldn’t help but to show their reaction.”

From there, word spread about Càphin. Lines at the farmers markets would sometimes run 40 people deep. Customers came from as far away as Duluth to try their coffee. Some even told Jenny and Savio that they would rearrange their own schedules based on when they would be out selling coffee.

One customer even approached the couple about taking over a brick-and-mortar space that he owned in South Minneapolis. He was about to close a tea shop in the space and wanted to know if they were interested in expanding. At first the couple said no. After all, they had only been in business for four months.

After their first farmers’ market season, Jenny and Savio thought more about opening a permanent location for Càphin. Fortunately, that same customer came back to them with the same offer. This time around, they said yes.

Navigating the SBA Process

As part of getting a permanent Càphin up and running, Jenny and Savio had to decide how they were going to finance their business. After interviewing with several banks, the couple connected with Sunrise Banks and its Small Business Administration (SBA) program. April Rouse, a commercial loan officer at Sunrise Banks, guided the couple through the entire process, helping them to choose what types of financing were right for their business.

“It was an absolute pleasure working with Jenny and Savio on the financing side of their project helping to make their dream a reality,” says April (pictured left). “Their business goals are exactly what the SBA program was designed for.”

Because the space was already operating as a café, Jenny and Savio didn’t have to do much to renovate it. That allowed them to take out a smaller SBA loan, plus a line of credit that would be used to pay for equipment and operating expenses.

“That level of detail and support helped us navigate the whole process and helped us borrow less money up front,” says Jenny.

“April took the time to listen to us, really understand what we needed and was able to find something that worked both for us and for the bank,” adds Savio.

“Savio and Jenny had a solid business plan and had done plenty of research to make the process run smoothly and efficiently,” says April. “Helping to grow the community is truly what Sunrise Banks is about. Building great relationships with individuals like Savio and Jenny make it all worthwhile.”

The New Coffee Shop on the Block

Jenny and Savio says neighbors and fellow business owners have welcomed Càphin to the area at 44th St. W. and France Ave. S. in Minneapolis with open arms. They did a soft opening in early February and fully opened a few weeks later. It’s been full steam ahead for the couple ever since.

“I’m here six days a week. I see all the people from the farmers markets,” says Jenny. “It’s just a heartwarming feeling to know people are still supporting you and it wasn’t just a one-time, hyped-up summer. Our customers really are loyal and want to support us.”

The couple also sells food and beverages from a handful of local vendors, including teas, chai, cookies and pastries.

“We like being able to expand the reach for them,” says Savio. “We feel very fortunate to have this space and business. Why not continue to support others that are doing the same thing we are?”

The couple says April also stops in frequently to see how things are going.

“It’s important to keep the relationship going after those initial meetings,” says April. “I don’t look at these as one-time transactions, but rather long-term partnerships.”

Plans for the Future

As for what’s next, Jenny and Savio say they would like to get into the roasting business so they can share Vietnamese coffee with more people, both in Minnesota and across the country. They still operate the Càphin trailer and just wrapped up another successful farmers’ market season. And they’re always excited when customers – both new and old – make a stop at their shop.

“I hear it all the time,” says Jenny. “’Thank goodness we don’t have to chase you down anymore!’”

Learn more about our SBA financing options at sunrisebanks.com/sba.

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Amanda Theisen is the Communications Manager for Sunrise Banks.