Brewtopia — Xanthe Kakaras

Live at the XK Intersection

Field Notes

Four ways I look at the world. Tap a circle.

EExperienceWhere you can find me

Yes, I'm a mermaid (see About). You'll always find me near water. Underwater is a whole other life, and it's my safe place.

CCreativityWhat inspires me

I'm always somewhere new, and my friends and family have stopped being surprised by where I turn up. You'll find me with a camera or on a walk, taking photos that challenge how I see the world and teach me to really look.

PPerspectiveWhat shifts my mindset

I've set a goal to meet at least one new person every week. Every person is a window onto how someone else sees the world, and you never know what you'll learn.

UUniverseCulture fun fact

In Paris I ate only steak tartare, escargot and frog legs for three days straight, every meal, to find the best one.

Status
Currently based
in New York, NY

Work
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Xanthe Kakaras
Art Direction + Design

Brewtopia
Coffee Brand Experience

Coffee has a soul, we’ll show you where it lives.

Overview
Brewtopia is an immersive coffee conservatory that brings the history, rituals, and global traditions of coffee to life through a cultural tasting and learning experience.

In NYC's crowded coffee scene, coffee is often treated as a quick caffeine stop rather than a cultural experience. While cafés focus on speed or specialty roasting, few spaces reveal the deeper history, rituals, and global traditions that shape coffee culture.

This project revisits and rebrands an earlier concept, rethinking the original positioning to better align with audience needs and the cultural essence of coffee. The strategy shifted from a large coffee attraction to a more intimate conservatory experience focused on history, rituals, and craft.

The client resulted in a cohesive brand and spatial system. The experience invites culturally curious coffee drinkers and visitors in SoHo to slow down, explore coffee's global traditions, and connect more deeply with the craft behind every cup.

Scope
+ Brand Strategy & Positioning
+ Concept Development
+ Art Direction
+ Copywriting + Advertising
+ Spatial Design

Brand Identity & Strategy

Brewtopia is shaped by a voice that feels rich, alive, and rooted in ritual, positioning coffee as a cultural experience. The seven-bean mark symbolizes the countries represented, turning each cup into a gateway to global traditions and deeper understanding.

Experiental & Space Design

Brewtopia creates a layered journey in a New York City space, combining sensory design with the history of coffee. Wayfinding leads visitors through country-based environments for tasting, dining, and cultural experiences.

Inside Interior: Turkey

Inside Interior: Ethiopia

Wayfinding hallways & sinage within Brewtopia

Customer service for inquiries. Located on the first floor.

Advertisement Campaign

Activated through billboards and high-traffic spaces, the campaign uses layered wordplay to position coffee as more than a daily habit. Headlines play on “grounds” and “grind” to reveal a deeper, more soulful experience.