A love for coffee can be the spark that ignites a business dream. That’s exactly what happened to Vince Elias, founder of Caphe 3838, a Vietnamese-inspired coffee concept in the Philippines. Launched in 2024, his café has already found its place among young professionals and call center agents in the area. In this interview, Vince shares the story behind Caphe 3838, what sets it apart, and how Loyverse has supported his journey.

Why, how, and when did you start your business?

We started our business on May 24, 2024. The idea came from our love for coffee. We used to enjoy Vietnamese coffee, especially from a local “banh mi” shop here in the Philippines. That experience inspired us to create our own version — and that’s how Caphe 3838 was born. In a country full of coffee shops, offering Vietnamese-style coffee gave us a unique edge.

Who is your target market?

Our main customers are virtual assistants and call center agents, since most of them live and work in our area. Of course, we welcome everyone, but this group makes up the majority of our regulars.

What motivated you to start, even though it’s costly and difficult?

I had always dreamed of running my own coffee shop, but I never had the time before. Last year, we finally pushed through and launched the business as a mobile coffee cart. It was the right moment to turn passion into reality.

How did you discover Loyverse?

I found Loyverse through social media. I had researched different POS systems, but Loyverse stood out as the most beginner-friendly. We started using it in August 2024, and since then, it’s become an essential part of our operations.

What are your favorite features?

My favorite feature is definitely the sales reports. I can easily see how many cups we serve, our discounts, gross sales, sales summaries, categories, and even payment types. All of that information helps us run the business more efficiently.

We also use loyalty programs — like giving customers loyalty cards and offering promos, including 50% discounts. These make our customers happy and encourage them to come back.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a business?

My advice is: start while you’re young. When you’re young, you have more energy, you can take risks, and you can handle the ups and downs of running a business. It’s all about setting the right mindset before jumping in — knowing that there will be challenges, but if you love what you’re doing, it’s worth it.

Caphe 3838 shows how passion, combined with a unique concept and the right tools like Loyverse, can turn a dream into a thriving business — one cup at a time.

Follow them on Instagram!: https://www.instagram.com/caphe3838/