At Kaleidos, we’re always drawn to the stories behind the things we love — especially when they involve thoughtfully crafted goods and the people who bring them to life. One of our favorite recent discoveries? Jane Coffee & Matcha — a fast-growing pop-up that’s been keeping the DMV happily caffeinated (and coming back for more).

We’re still buzzing from their pop-up at Kaleidos this past weekend, where over 250 people showed up to sip, shop, and see what all the buzz was about. If there was ever any doubt, it’s clear that people are eager to get their hands on Jane’s specialty coffee and matcha (and for good reason!).

After such an incredible turnout, and with all the fast growth and buzz around Jane, we wanted to slow things down and get to know the duo behind the brand — their roots, rituals, and the community-first energy that fuels their small business.[Pictured above: Daniell & Michelle, the duo behind Jane Coffee and Matcha]

Let’s start with the origin story. What inspired Jane Coffee & Matcha? Was there a defining moment that brought the idea to life?

Jane Coffee + Matcha started with a dream by us. We got married in 2015 and shortly after we had the idea of owning our own cafe one day and we would talk extensively about the details of our future cafe. Michelle is a musician who has a passion for exploring different cafes in the world and experiencing the aesthetics and vibes each one presents. Daniell is a software engineer, however, he’s always had a passion for one day becoming a chef, creating recipes and serving people our favorite food/drinks. Since 2015, it has been a slow process of working on our craft which lead to us opening our first coffee + matcha cart business earlier this year April 2025.

What’s the meaning behind the name “Jane”? Sometimes simple names carry the most intention — we’d love to know how you landed on it and what it means to you.

We named Jane after our daughter, Mali Jane. Our vision is to give our community something a little new, fresh and different from the average cup of Joe.

[Pictured above: Mali Jane, their daughter and namesake for Jane Coffee & Matcha]

Tell us a little about your backgrounds. What shaped your relationship to coffee, matcha, or the kind of experience you’re creating?

Throughout the years we learned about the process of making coffee + matcha and how it’s prepared. Lately, Jane has gotten a larger than expected turnout which we are very grateful for. More than a drink, matcha lies at the soul of the Japanese tea ceremony. A ritual of grace, stillness, and intention. Our goal is to continue to honor that tradition. When we serve our coffee + matcha we want everyone to enjoy their drink the way it’s intended to, which is to slow down and take a moment for yourself.

Your drinks have developed quite a following. What makes your coffee and matcha special? Is there a sourcing or preparation process that sets you apart? 

We focus on keeping our drinks classic but adding our own twist. We also make sure we use high quality and fresh ingredients.

You’ve created such a memorable pop-up experience — what goes into that? How do you think about design, flow, or the mood you’re trying to cultivate? We think people are excited to find pop up carts.

Yes! People are very excited to find pop up carts because I mean, who wouldn’t be happy to see a coffee + matcha bar. It reminds us of when we were kids and our faces would light up when we hear the ice cream truck coming. We think people also like to experience watching how everything is made right in front of them. The experiences that we’ve created comes from many hours of planning, prepping, and staying intentional with our vision.

The community’s response has been incredible. How has it felt to grow so quickly in the DMV? What has surprised you most? And how do you stay connected to the heart of your brand as the buzz builds?

We feel so honored but also still surprised that the DMV community has been coming out to our events! Both of us were born and raised in the DMV, Daniell from Silver Spring, MD and Michelle from Annandale, VA. So the way this growing community in the DMV is starting to find our cart, it means so much to us. We are well aware that a buzz can come and go, so our focus is to stay true to our purpose with Jane, work on staying consistent, as well as continue to push the envelope.[Photo above by Drago Tomianovic | IG:@depresso5drago]

What are some of the biggest lessons or challenges you’ve encountered so far as small business owners? Running a pop-up is more than just brewing — what’s something people might not realize about this kind of work?

The biggest challenge currently is predicting the turn out on any given event. We want our customers to have a great and relaxing experience when they come to us. Because we are a mobile coffee cart, we have limited space and ingredients we can serve. We are also still a startup so we are still learning how to manage the wait times and we are definitely working on ways to make it a smoother experience for everyone.

What keeps you grounded — or inspired — when things get hectic? Do you have any rituals, go-to resets, or creative practices that help?

Family time and reminding ourselves why we do this. This business is not easy and things may get hectic, but when we remind ourselves of the big vision we have for Jane, it makes all the hard work definitely worth it.

Let’s talk about values. What’s most important to you in how you show up as a business? As humans?

As a cafe business serving people in the community, we need to keep in mind that within a community there is diversity. Our mission to let people be themselves and feel accepted by who they are.

Looking ahead, what’s next for Jane? Any dreams on the horizon or upcoming plans you’re excited about?

We want everyone to stay tuned to what we have brewing for the future. We are very excited about what’s to come. This is only the beginning. We don’t want to share too much yet until things start to materialize, but just know we are determined to keep working towards our goal and enhance your experience.

What collaborations or community moments have meant the most to you so far?

Honestly all our events have been special to us. We learn so much from connecting and collabing with different entrepreneurs and the different energy each business provides. Also, the dmv community has been amazing and all great vibes. We love to meet fellow coffee/matcha lovers in the community.

If Jane were a person, how would you describe their energy or vibe? We love this question because it brings the brand to life in a different way.

As we mentioned, Jane is heavily inspired by our daughter who is now six years old. Our daughter has been our motivation and our purpose in creating Jane. Mali Jane was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 4 years old. Mali has a very unique personality and she has made quite an impact on many people around her. People describe our daughter as having a very infectious personality and never fails to make people smile when she walks into a room. This is the energy or vibe we’re going for, giving people something a little different from what we’re used to.

Finally, what do you hope people feel when they take that first sip at one of your pop-ups? Beyond the drink itself — what’s the bigger experience you hope to offer?

We hope people will take a sip on a cup of Jane and feel happy & energized to take on the rest of their day.

At Kaleidos, we believe that great coffee and vintage treasures have something in common — they both tell stories, spark connection, and remind us to enjoy the moment. We're honored to have hosted Jane Coffee & Matcha at Kaleidos and to share space with a small business that embodies the same kind of care, creativity, and community that we hold dear.

Be sure to follow @janecoffeeandmatcha on Instagram to keep up with their next pop‑ups around the DMV!