Dhan Tamang, founder of Kavi Coffee, today announced the opening of the company’s first London café, a five-minute walk from Borough Market in Southwark. The new venue replicates the layout of Kavi’s flagship site on Winchester’s Jewry Street and will host a coffee school equipped with Dalla Corte machinery—equipment of which Tamang is a brand ambassador.

Speaking at a press briefing in Winchester, Tamang said the move reflected London’s openness to independent businesses and his long-term goal of nurturing talent. “I didn’t have these facilities when I was starting out,” he said. “Now we can give our team the tools I wish I’d had.” The London coffee school will offer courses in espresso extraction, milk texturing, and latte art, mirroring the curriculum launched at Kavi’s Winchester site last autumn.

Kavi’s London café will employ 20 staff, including six baristas trained in latte art by Tamang, a six-time UK Latte Art Champion and former World Top Four competitor. His 2022 book, Coffee Art, remains a reference for professional and home baristas across the UK. The Winchester team completed a pop-up residency at Borough Market last month, testing recipes and gathering customer feedback ahead of the permanent launch on June 10.

Tamang launched Kavi Bakehouse—formerly Kneaded—on May 21, expanding the brand beyond coffee into baked goods. The bakehouse employs 12 staff and sources ingredients from Hampshire farms. Kavi Coffee’s Winchester site, which opened in 2017, has trained over 5,000 baristas through its coffee school since November. The London expansion marks the brand’s first step into the capital, with plans to open a second café in Shoreditch by 2026.

Local councillors welcomed the news but cautioned about rising rents in Southwark, noting that small businesses face increasing pressure. “We need to support independents who invest in skills and communities,” said Southwark Cllr Priya Patel. Kavi’s London café will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with a weekend brunch menu featuring Tamang’s signature roasts and seasonal pastries from Kavi Bakehouse.

The expansion follows a year of rapid growth: Kavi Coffee’s revenue rose 40% in 2023, driven by wholesale contracts and its bakehouse launch. Tamang attributes the success to a focus on education and quality. “Our message isn’t just about selling coffee,” he said. “It’s about building careers and changing lives.” The London café will open with a free latte art demonstration by Tamang at 10 a.m. on June 10, open to the public.