Kavat Coffee, located on Colorado Boulevard, was founded and is owned by Grammy Award-winning musician and lead singer of the band System of a Down, Serj Tankian. According to their website, the coffee shop is introducing “premium modern Armenian coffee” to Eagle Rock.
The Kavat Coffee website says the business is “a band of coffee enthusiasts who have taken our cultural roots and infused them with modern flavors and sensibilities.”
Ara Ajounian, manager of Kavat Coffee, said the brand began as an online venture before opening its physical location last year.
“For six months, we worked on developing our blend,” Ajounian said. “It started as an online product, and now we have the café alongside it.
The coffee draws on a Near Eastern brewing tradition passed down through generations. Ajounian said Kavat Coffee was born from a shared desire to modernize a familiar cultural ritual.
“As Armenians, we grew up drinking coffee in the house with our parents,” Ajounian said. “It didn’t matter how late it was. It was part of spending time together, in happy or sad moments. You can always start a conversation with coffee. That’s how it all started.”
According to Ajounian, the coffee shop also serves as a creative and cultural space.
“Every two to three months, we have a different artist display their work on our walls,” Ajounian said. “When we first opened, we featured Serj’s artwork, which he pairs with original music you can hear by scanning the pieces with an app.”
Ajounian said Kavat Coffee hosts weekly “Acoustic Sundaze,” which feature local musicians’ performances on the shop’s outdoor patio.
“We want to give people a place to gather and be together, somewhere local where they can come and hang out,” Ajounian said.
Anna Knight (senior), a former barista at Kavat Coffee, said Kavat Coffee’s work environment is supportive and community-oriented.
“It’s the closest thing to family I think a workplace could get to,” Knight said. “A lot of the staff are musicians, and Serj always offers his advice and time.”
According to Knight, Tankian has cultivated cultural connections, and the neighborhood recognizes his efforts.
“It’s a great space to work if you ever need to lock in, and I think Kavat’s coffee is some of the best in town,” Knight said.
Knight said Kavat Coffee celebrated its first anniversary four months ago, emphasizing the importance of supporting local businesses as the coffee shop builds its reputation.
“I’m not Armenian, but learning about the culture has been really meaningful,” Knight said. “It’s valuable to have these spaces that celebrate Armenian identity and welcome everyone.”
Serine Bedros (junior), a member of Occidental College’s Armenian Student Association (ASA), said the group has held meetings and fundraisers at Kavat Coffee.
“We partnered with Kavat for a fundraiser for TUMObox, which is an education initiative,” Bedros said. “They donated 50% of the sales from the event and provided raffle items like signed System of a Down albums.”
Bedros said she admires Tankian for his outspokenness on social justice issues.
“I admire Serj a lot for his activism,” Bedros said. “He’s very vocal about Armenian issues, especially regarding Azerbaijan’s recent ethnic cleansing and the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”
According to Bedros, the coffee shop also creates a sense of cultural connection for the Armenian population in Eagle Rock.
“It’s nice to have that cultural aspect nearby,” Bedros said. “There’s a lot in Glendale, but not as many in Eagle Rock.”
Ajounian said Kavat Coffee participates in local school and social events to maintain ties with the neighborhood.
“We’re always happy to provide coffee for events,” Ajounian said. “If they call and need coffee for an event, we’re more than happy to provide it. Little things like that let the community know we’re here and we care.”
According to Ajounian, the goal is to share Armenian coffee culture with a broader audience by merging tradition with modern practices.
“Every three to four months, we invite a local vendor to host a pop-up and sell knafeh, a traditional Middle Eastern pastry,” Ajounian said. “Events like these really help bring the people together.”
Ajounian said the coffee shop’s focus remains on quality and building togetherness.
“We don’t cut corners,” he said. “We love what we’re doing, and we want the community to be a part of it.”
Contact Samhita Kirshnan at krishnan@oxy.edu
