St. Charles riverfront coffee shop Kava Diem to change name

After six years in downtown St. Charles, coffee shop Kava Diem now will be known as Maple Leaf Coffee House to reflect the brand of its new owners’ wholesale coffee business.

Partners Alex Behrens and Molly Duntemann, owners of Maple Leaf Coffee Roasters in Roselle, bought the cafe at 1 W. Illinois St. on Sept. 26, 2023, and are making a few changes.

Behrens said they are maintaining the great parts of Kava Diem, including much of the staff, and the rebranding makes the connection between the cafe and their coffee business more obvious and the change in ownership more evident to guests.

Maple Leaf Coffee Roasters is a wholesale coffee roasting business that sells globally sourced coffee beans online and at its storefront at 352 E. Irving Park Road in Roselle.

The cafe’s rebranding, including a new logo, website and signage, were in place for a soft opening week that started Jan. 27, when the cafe unveiled several new menu items. Some of the new items include bagels, gluten-free toast, sourdough and new vegan options.

Behrens said each weekend in February the cafe will be offering special promotions and sales on bags of coffee. He said they also intend to have a ribbon-cutting in February, as well as adjust their business hours.

Behrens said when the new hours are implemented, the cafe will open at 7 a.m. (one hour earlier) and they are planning to offer specials during the first hour of service (7 to 8 a.m.) after the change.

Behrens said he appreciates all the community support the cafe received around the holidays. While January has been slow because of the weather, he is looking forward to spring, when they plan to renovate the patio. He said the footprint of the patio overlooking the Fox River won’t change, but it will be a better looking and more comfortable space for guests to relax in the summer.

For more information on promotions, new hours and events, visit the Maple Leaf Coffee House website or Facebook page.