Our Team
Alena
You’d think if your job was coffee, you’d find something else to do as a hobby, but whether it’s coffee-flavored chocolates or tequila, Alena is always thinking about the beans. As our resident expert, she’s personally responsible for designing the roasts, blends and specialty brews you enjoy in our shop. The only thing Alena likes more than coffee is her two dogs, Sam & Charlie, who she loves to take paddle boarding and on adventures around the island, and around the country in the SUV she personally outfitted for road-tripping to America’s National Parks.
Dan
Raised on a healthy dose of Jimmy Buffett, it’s no surprise that Dan found his way to Key West. It’s probably also not a surprise that working for the man never worked out, and he gravitated to self employment, starting his first successful business two years after graduating from Penn State. Four years later, he brought that entrepreneurial experience to Keys Coffee Co, where he initially developed the company’s brand and managed its marketing. After moving to Key West in 2019, he took on a full-time role in the day-to-day management of the business.
Our Story
Keys Coffee Co was founded by three friends, Alena, Geno and Dan, who trace the roots of that friendship back to the late 2000s in Cape May, NJ, where they all summers working in some of that island’s best establishments. The intervening years saw Geno and Alena learning the ins and outs of the food and bev sector, while Dan made a career in marketing. Over the next decade, they each followed the Atlantic Coast southward and built the base they’d need to start their very own business.
In 2015, they decided it was time combine their years of experience in bars, restaurants, and businesses up and down the East Cost to found Keys Coffee Co. From the very beginning, the goal was to create quick-service café providing locals and visitors alike with the best quality coffee and made-to-order meals. And, although Geno has since moved on to other endeavors, Alena and Dan still carry on that same vision today.
That’s why Keys Coffee Co remains committed to serving locally roasted beans and handcrafted breakfast and lunch sandwiches with the best available local ingredients. All eggs are cooked to order, and all spreads and sauces are made in-house. The majority of baked goods are made on-site, but some are also sourced from the best local purveyors, like Goldman’s Bagel Deli.
The fresh ingredients and commitment to local products can be tasted in every bite.
Attention to detail is evidenced by things like taking the time to prepare coffee ice cubes to make sure your cold coffee is never watered down, or the buttery texture of the house-cured salmon, which melts in your mouth. And their knowledge of the product they serve is extensive: you can ask where your coffee came from or find out what particular aromas and flavors are associated with your brew.
As a local, owner-operated business, Keys Coffee is proud to take the time to both provide exceptional customer service and produce a superior product.
Dan and Alena invite you to drop in to Keys Coffee Co. and try what locals are happy to call The Best Coffee in Key West.
Our Beans
Origin: Colombia Roast: Medium/Dark
Notes: Fairly sweet, with hints of fruit & cocoa
Origin: House Secret Roast: Medium/Light
Notes: Cold brew for smooth and light nuttiness
