How Two Childhood Friends Built For Five Coffee Into a Luxury Coffee Empire

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TLDR

When two childhood friends from Queens set out to change the coffee industry, they weren’t looking to follow the trends - they were determined to set them. Stefanos Vouvoudakis and Tom Tsiplakos, the founders of For Five Coffee, started with a simple goal: bring high-end specialty coffee to New York’s luxury market and make sure it was roasted by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers.

From a small roasting facility in Maspeth, Queens, in 2010, to a nationwide coffee brand with over 35 locations, For Five Coffee has become a powerhouse in the specialty coffee scene, blending quality, precision, and a relentless work ethic. But behind every cup is the story of two lifelong friends who built something from the ground up—with just grit, vision, and a love for great coffee.

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From Queens to the Coffee Business

Long before For Five became one of America’s top luxury coffee brands, its roots were planted in the friendship between Stefanos and Tom, who met as kids in a Whitestone classroom. Their bond remained strong over the years, but it was their shared ambition that led them to coffee.

Stefanos’ journey into the industry began right after college. He took a job with a coffee roaster in New Jersey, supplying beans to New York’s hospitality industry, from local diners to upscale restaurants. Over nearly a decade, he learned the ins and outs of the business; from sourcing beans to understanding what New York’s coffee market was missing. As specialty coffee brands from the West Coast and Philadelphia like Blue Bottle and Stumptown started gaining traction in NYC, Stefanos saw an opportunity: New York needed a specialty coffee brand of its own.

Tom, on the other hand, came from the food and beverage distribution world. His experience working with New York’s top restaurants gave him valuable insights into logistics, partnerships, and the fine details of running a successful operation.

In 2010, the two friends decided to take the leap. They pooled their savings, secured a small roasting space in Long Island City, and got to work developing their first signature coffee blends.

Breaking Into the High-End Coffee Market

Launching a specialty coffee brand in one of the world’s most competitive cities wasn’t easy. The duo spent six months perfecting their coffee, then started knocking on doors - literally. They pitched their coffee to some of New York’s trendiest restaurants, offering them high-quality, locally roasted beans that could compete with the biggest names in the industry.

Their hard work paid off. For Five Coffee quickly became a go-to roaster for top restaurants, solidifying its reputation in the industry. But their ambitions didn’t stop at wholesale.

In 2016, they took a bold step opening their first café in Times Square. Unlike many specialty coffee shops that leaned into minimalist branding and quiet atmospheres, For Five embraced a sleek, high-end aesthetic that catered to busy professionals, creatives, and coffee lovers who appreciated quality without pretension.

That first café was a game-changer. It set the stage for rapid expansion, with new locations opening in major cities like Los Angeles, Boston, Washington DC, Virginia, Chicago, and Atlanta. Today, with over 35 locations across the country, For Five has become one of the most recognized specialty coffee brands in the U.S.