“We knew at some point we’d get to a place where we’d outgrown the space that we’re in currently,” Lupkey said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “The hotel space can feel quite limited, and there’s so much more that we can give our customers.”
Success came faster than either owner expected.
What began as a two-person operation has grown into an eight-person team, forcing Lupkey and Kirk to quickly learn how to scale a business while maintaining the quality and personality that attracted customers in the first place.
“We used to eyeball everything,” Lupkey laughed. “Now we’re thinking about what selling 500 coffees in a day means for inventory, prep, recipes, and managing a growing team.”
That attention to detail is reflected throughout Lucky Cup’s menu.
Nearly every signature drink can be ordered with either espresso or matcha, including favorites like the Banana Bread latte, made with house-made banana syrup and cinnamon, or the Oh Honey, featuring honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of salt.
While seasonal drinks rotate throughout the year, those two originals have remained the café’s best-selling beverages.