In Conversation With Nicolene Co-Founder and CEO of Xpresso

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. Instagram · Twitter