In Conversation With Nicolene Co-Founder and CEO of Xpresso
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Xpresso Café is a South African coffee franchise that was founded in 2016 by Nicolene
and Tomer Elhadad. The first store opened in Durbanville, Cape Town, on International
Coffee Day. The idea was to make coffee and baked goods affordable for everyone by
introducing a fixed-price menu. Originally, every item cost R10, and although the price
has since increased to R14, the concept of affordability and accessibility remains central
to the brand.
The café operates as a takeaway-only service, focusing on speed and convenience
rather than sit-down dining. Customers can choose from coffee, pastries, sandwiches,
hot chocolates, and other treats, all priced equally. To ensure consistency across its
growing number of stores, Xpresso established its own food factory in Cape Town,
which supplies products to branches nationwide.
Since its launch, Xpresso Café has expanded rapidly, now with more than 80 stores
across South Africa and millions of items sold each month. It appeals to a wide range of
customers, including students, commuters, families, and office workers, while also
creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs through its franchise model. At its
core, Xpresso Café is about accessibility, community, and resilience, standing out as
South Africa’s R14 café and proving that everyday indulgence doesn’t have to come at a
high cost.
and Tomer Elhadad. The first store opened in Durbanville, Cape Town, on International
Coffee Day. The idea was to make coffee and baked goods affordable for everyone by
introducing a fixed-price menu. Originally, every item cost R10, and although the price
has since increased to R14, the concept of affordability and accessibility remains central
to the brand.
The café operates as a takeaway-only service, focusing on speed and convenience
rather than sit-down dining. Customers can choose from coffee, pastries, sandwiches,
hot chocolates, and other treats, all priced equally. To ensure consistency across its
growing number of stores, Xpresso established its own food factory in Cape Town,
which supplies products to branches nationwide.
Since its launch, Xpresso Café has expanded rapidly, now with more than 80 stores
across South Africa and millions of items sold each month. It appeals to a wide range of
customers, including students, commuters, families, and office workers, while also
creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs through its franchise model. At its
core, Xpresso Café is about accessibility, community, and resilience, standing out as
South Africa’s R14 café and proving that everyday indulgence doesn’t have to come at a
high cost.
