The latest USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Awards recently named Kaldi’s Coffee the best coffee chain in the United States, beating out large national brands such as Starbucks, Peet’s, and Caribou Coffee.
Rob Wilhelm, director of marketing, explains they didn’t even know they made the list until co-owner Tyler Zimmer received a congratulatory email. After they posted on social media, Kaldi’s moved up five spots, from No. 10 to No. 5. Then they asked for support in their newsletter, and overnight Kaldi’s landed in the No. 1 spot.
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Making the accolade even more meaningful: Kaldi’s is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. “It goes back 30 years, that loyal following, the memories, all of those people who have a connection to the brand, to watch them show up and vote for us at such a pivotal time, and then to win is a feeling in its own right,” says Wilhelm.
“I was amazed at the response on social media and from the newsletters. We would get comments saying, ‘We love you. We’re voting for you every day,’” says Aaron Johnson, director of content development. “When you have that sheer number of people behind you, it feels really, really good.”
What’s New
As if they didn’t have enough to celebrate, the company has plenty of new offerings.
Kaldi’s recently opened a new location at Siteman Cancer Center on Forest Park Parkway, and there is expected growth in the Atlanta region.
During the past year, the company also launched a cold brew concentrate, which creates a range of options, from hot coffee to a base for cocktails. “The flexibility of this product is immense,” says Wilhelm. Kaldi’s is also projected to have a new ready-to-drink cold brew early next year, and is already busy gearing up for the holiday season.
This year, in addition to three-, six-, and 12-month subscriptions, the company is releasing a 30-month subscription to celebrate 30 years of business. “We like to think of it as the ultimate gift with two-and-a-half years of coffee,” says Wilhelm.
You can also celebrate the anniversary with Kaldi’s Coffee on October 22 and 23 in all St. Louis area cafés, where you’ll find 30 percent off drip coffee and $3 of retail 12-ounce bags.
The Background
Founded in 1994 on the leafy corner of DeMun and Northwood, Kaldi’s began as a neighborhood coffee shop that became popular with families and university students. Kaldi’s has long been a place to meet friends where you know the coffee will be good and the service will be friendly. In the 30 years since its opening, Kaldi’s has grown to 14 locations in the St. Louis area and four in Atlanta.
“We still think of ourselves as a neighborhood cafe, trying to serve the best quality coffee possible,” says Zimmer. “Each of our cafés is as unique as each guest that walks through our doors.”
