Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
By Mahika Kukday
A cream-colored Frenchie holding a cup with the letter “D” on it greets customers at the front door. The “D” stands for Daycation Coffee, and for “Dango” – the name of the new coffee shop’s muse.
Set to soft-open next week at 189 Dr. M.L.K Jr. St. N, Daycation Coffee is the latest addition to the Sunshine City’s specialty coffee scene. With a heavy emphasis on personal connection and bringing something completely new to the table, owner Rachel Zhang put thought into every step.
“My first baby being an ambassador for my first shop,” Zhang said. “That kind of makes sense.”
While it’s Zhang’s puppy, Dango, that inspired the shop’s mascot, the café’s menu was influenced by something else: her Asian heritage.
Thirty one-year-old Zhang came from her hometown of Chongqing, China to Seattle in 2011 where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communications. Seattle, being the birthplace of Starbucks and consequently having a thriving a coffee scene, is where her love of coffee began
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
Graduate school took her to the University of South California in Los Angeles. There, she worked part-time at La Colombe coffee roasters, a popular chain now known for their canned “draft lattes.”
It was Zhang’s first coffee-related job, and it sparked the idea of owning her own café one day – even if she considered it wishful thinking.
“It’s cool to have a coffee shop, but you never really take [the thought] seriously, right?,” she said.
Even after temporarily setting her dream aside, she worked at an advertising agency and pursued her passion on the side. She travelled to New York and got her Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) certification, the industry’s standard for coffee education.
Zhang moved to Tampa two years ago with her husband. Last February, they started exploring St. Petersburg and immediately wanted to own a café space in what they considered to be a vibrant city.
They secured their current location in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg in October 2023.
Now, one year later, Zhang is ready to introduce a brand-new flavor profile to the city’s many coffee lovers.
“Hopefully people will love it, I’m so nervous because it’s definitely a risk,” Zhang said, as she used a bamboo whisk to dissolve hojicha in hot water.
Hojicha is the name for Japanese roasted green tea. It’s known for its nutty, smokey and naturally sweet flavor.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
Daycation’s five signature drinks will spotlight different East-Asian flavors, like black sesame, yuzu and more. Zhang will reveal each beverage, and the personal story that inspired it, one by one on the café’s Instagram starting next week. The menu will feature additional signature drinks, such as seasonal options, periodically.
All the staples will be available as well, such as vanilla, chai and matcha.
The coffee beans themselves come directly from Yunnan, China. Zhang partnered with Torch Coffee to create the Daycation Blend for espresso. After several trials, she chose a floral, fruity medium roast combining beans from Guatemala and Yunnan.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
Committed to showcasing artists and products from her home country, Zhang also sourced her hot beverage cups from Jingdezhen, often referred to as a porcelain capital of China.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
The 500-square-foot shop will feature free Wi-Fi and limited seating – four to five chairs around two tables, and three highchairs at the bar table – to keep the space open and inviting. Zhang hopes to add additional seating outside soon.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
She makes all the syrups in house in a small prep kitchen and has three people currently on staff. As head barista, Zhang will spearhead operations for the foreseeable future.
Pourover, cold brew and more brewing methods will be available for customers to try.
Chef and The Baker is set to supply some pastry staples, such as croissants and morning buns, for the café. Zhang is committed to supporting local businesses, and said she would like to stock beans and bakery items from a variety of St. Petersburg businesses.
Daycation Coffee’s soft opening is slated for early next week, and Zhang hopes to officially launch just days after.
She is excited to bring her Asian heritage and her appreciation of a simple coffee break to St. Petersburg.
“The first step you take into the space, I want you to feel like ‘Oh, I should just take a short break here,” she said. “That’s why I named my shop Daycation.”
Follow Daycation Coffee on Instagram to keep up with menu updates, information on their grand opening, and adorable videos of Dango the Frenchie.
