The aroma of coffee beans from around the globe greets customers before they are met with the warmth of the owners, two friends whose journey started a decade ago two oceans away.
Rupesh Neupane, who did not have a job until his 59th interview after coming to the U.S. from Nepal, and Sunit Khadge, who has taken different career directions from being in health care to being in tech, started 33 Peaks Cafe in March.
“It’s weird in a way because starting something like this in the service industry, at our age, is completely different,” Khadge said. “Not a lot of people do this, especially working on the front face of it.”
Located in Southlake, 33 Peaks Cafe, named after the 33 mountain peaks of Nepal, is a Nepali-owned cafe that is made whole by coffee beans, teas and the community it has created.
The interactions between customers and the owners were a pathway to create stronger bonds with one another. The employees caught on as well.
“I guess it kind of just inspired me to talk to customers the same way,” said NE student Jason Neuse, who is a barista at the cafe. “I could talk about other things I have in common with customers. It’s always nice. It’s definitely a part of the job I enjoy a lot.”
Neuse said the caffeine that customers initially seek is just a byproduct of the cafe.
“It seems like we’re bartenders that just don’t serve alcohol,” Neuse said. “It’s the community we’ve built around the coffee.”
Neuse talked about how Neupane and Khadge, taught him the inner workings of coffee. He said Neupane helped him gain insight into how good coffee is made.
“Rupesh loves coffee. He is really passionate, and so is Sunit,” he said. “Every time I come in, Rupesh has always got this inkling of knowledge he is putting on you.”
Neupane said he and Khadge play multiple roles during their shifts, which they work in halves. Neupane works from opening time to 1 p.m. when he switches with Khadge who works from 1 p.m. until closing time.
Neupane said as co-founder, his role is everything.
“I wear all kinds of hats. I am not just the owner, I am also a barista, I am also a manager, I am also a HR, I am everything I need to be as a small business owner,” he said. “There is no help. You are the help.”
Neupane, who moved to the U.S. just 10 years ago from Nepal and calls himself an adopted Texan and Khadge, a former software engineer and a New York native, quit their full-time jobs to transform the cafe into the beauty it is today.
In the cafe, it is hard to find a corner without big windows that reflect the greenery outside.
The vibrance of the cafe is difficult to miss with it being surrounded by sunlight beaming from the windows. There is a secluded area in the cafe that includes cozy couches and plenty of room for a group meeting.
The beverages 33 Peaks Cafe offers get their essence from a diverse mix of international flavors.
“[Our] oolong is from Taiwan, and it is actually made by a small farmer family who has been doing it for many years,” Neupane said. “I think they are third generation tea farmers.”
The cafe’s seasonal organic teas, golden tips, Himalayan Gold and holy basil, are from Nepal and are naturally processed. The jasmine tea is from China and the matcha is from Japan. The cafe also provides its customers with espresso made with beans from Guatemala and New Zealand.
“We also have single-origin coffee beans for pourovers and French press, and not a lot of coffee shops do French press, especially in Southlake,” Neupane said. “So, offering that to our customers to try single [single-origin beans] from Kenya, from Ethiopia, from Guatemala and El Salvador. We try to cater that to our [customers].”
Neuse said it is because of balanced efforts the cafe has a great working environment.
“Everyone is splitting up and contributing equally to everything,” he said. “Even though Rupesh and Sunit own the coffee shop, they’re putting in just as much work as I am instead of [only] managing.”
Khadge said aside from the business aspects of the cafe, the team’s motive is to have a good time.
“We genuinely try to have fun ourselves, and I think maybe that plays a role in the customer experience as well,” he said.
The cafe also hosts events to support local artists and create a friendly and fun environment for the customers. Khadge said the cafe is always in search of talent who want to showcase their skills.
Just recently, the cafe hosted a violinist, Jay Sriram, to play his tunes. Likewise, they have also hosted pop-up shows for newcoming artists. A Carroll High School graduate and UT student, Zac Nystrom, makes syrups used by the cafe for their Honey Lattes.
These are some of the opportunities 33 Peaks provides to bring together the community.
Khadge said he and Neupane enjoy putting the events together because they both like to socialize and meet new people. He said their goal is also to create a hub where people can come and enjoy themselves.
“A part of me sort of misses that in New York,” he said. “We want to bring the community together, and this is sort of an avenue for me to do that.”
