Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Caplan.
Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I come from the nightclub business most known for Uropa over in the River Oaks area but also owned Grasshopper and Jet Lounge downtown. After 15 plus years with Uropa, it was time to pass the torch onto other hopeful club owners and focus on a new chapter that didn’t require me to hang out with the “vampires”. ha!
I have always been a coffee lover and knew I wanted to stay in the hospitality business. I was familiar with the slow brew method called siphons, and then discovered a halogen siphon machine that intrigued me. I told my wife “honey we are going to either be in the coffee business or I will be serving you siphons every morning”.
Many people in the coffee business cautioned me to not focus my concept around siphons because of the complexity and the labor-intensive process. However, I feel if you give the customer what you think is the best product then you figure all that other stuff out.
So me and my partner at the time opened Siphon about May 2014 over in the Montrose area and our siphon gamble paid off.
With goals to expand and open other concepts, I left behind Siphon to launch Cavo Coffee in the Greenway Plaza area, in the new Regions Financial building. Just like my original concept, Cavo offers siphons, along with espresso-based drinks, along with a breakfast and lunch menu that has a great selection of toast from our best seller Avo Cavo, breakfast tacos to sandwiches such as the Turkey Torta. We also serve a great selection of local craft beer and wine.
Cavo recently opened up a mobile station in the upscale River Oaks District. Located across the courtyard from Hopdoddy, this new concept offers a full menu of coffee and espresso (minus the siphons), along with select baked goods and breakfast tacos.
In spring 2018 you can expect a 3rd Cavo location as we open a storefront in West University. Menu will be somewhat different but as always we will feature the best coffee, espresso, and siphons. Stay tuned.
Has it been a smooth road?
Transitioning from the nightclub business to a business adding a food component is always challenging. I am always learning from my talented chefs and staff. I have learned that hiring people that are passionate about coffee and food always make the struggles less trying.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Cavo Coffee story. Tell us more about the business.
What I am most proud of is actually what sets us apart. The design and feel of my locations is a top priority and I strive to make sure that each of them has the feeling of having its own soul.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think that specialty coffee shops that are locally owned will continue to become more and more popular as more people start noticing the difference between great coffee and espresso and what the Starbucks of the world serve.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3773 Richmond Ave, 77046 (Main location)
4444 Westheimer, 77027 (River Oaks District) - Website: cavocoffee.com
- Phone: Phone number (346) 320-4195
- Email: hello@cavocoffee.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cavocoffee
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cavocoffee
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cavo-coffee-houston-2
Image Credit:
Christian Brown, Cody Bess
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