St. Petersburg's Kahwa Coffee Opens in Sunset Harbour

Kahwa Coffee, a Florida roaster based in St. Petersburg, debuts a Miami location today in Miami Beach's Sunset Harbour neighborhood.

The grand opening, happening from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., includes Miami's own Michelle Bernstein as a guest barista from 9 to 11 a.m. Also expect other chef appearances and free coffee drinks all day.

"We met a couple of years ago and really hit it off," Kahwa cofounder Raphael Perrier says of the James Beard-winning chef. "She's become a good friend of the family. Our kids play together."

Kahwa Coffee, founded in 2006 by Perrier and his wife Sarah, has 13 retail locations across Florida's west coast in cities such as Sarasota, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. Miami is the brand's first shop on the east coast. All beans are roasted at Kahwa's production facility in Tampa Bay.

However, this is not Miami's first taste of Kahwa. The brand supplies coffee to Bernstein's Crumb on Parchment in the Design District, Zak the Baker in Wynwood, and the Como Metropolitan Hotel and Semilla Eatery & Bar in Miami Beach.

"Having been a part of Miami’s restaurant scene for several years now, we’ve been looking for right the opportunity to open a café," Raphael says. “This location has all the right elements and is in a great neighborhood. Everything fit."

In terms of food and drinks, the shop serves more than 20 coffees and teas. Among them, find cappuccinos, Americanos, espressos, flat whites, nitro cold brew, and iced chai latte ($2.18 to $6.45).

Zak the Baker has been tapped to stock the store with baked goods, including guava and cheese pastries, assorted cookies, macarons, gluten-free banana bread, cinnamon buns, cream cheese danishes, and fruit danishes.

"Sandwiches, baked goods, and small packaged items often come from hyperlocal purveyors depending on season and availability," Raphael says. "We're excited to partner with local businesses like Zak the Baker.

Kahwa Coffee grand opening. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 1701 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach; 305-397-8700; kahwacoffee.com.