Something magical is brewing in Covington: A Northern Kentucky couple is preparing to open their own cafe that combines a menu of specialty coffee, a cozy atmosphere and a sprinkle of enchantment for the whole community.
At 807 Madison Ave., husband-and-wife team Noah and Brittany Markowich are in the midst of crafting their dream coffee shop. As the final permits come in and the end stages of construction begin, an eclectic collection of chairs fills the space, ready to seat guests when the Markowichs open in a few weeks. Some are completely wooden; some feature fabric seats with embroidered flowers. All are what you would expect to find in a cottage kitchen, and all are unique, just like each guest who will pass through the doors of The Cauldron Cafe.
“Every person who comes in has something going on in their life that you probably have no idea about, and just being there for them, just being a positive source in someone’s day — We just want to be a safe space for people to come and be like, ‘I know I can come here. I’m gonna have a good cup of coffee. I can decompress for a few minutes and then be on my way. Or I can chat for 10 minutes if I wanted to.’ I think that’s really important for us,” Brittany tells CityBeat.
It’s that understanding of how a good cup of coffee can help someone heal, even just a little bit, that started the Markowichs on their journey to opening The Cauldron. In 2023, both Noah’s brother and mother died, just a few months apart.
“We worked our jobs, we lived in our house in the suburbs in Edgewood and we didn’t love the neighborhood,” Noah explains. “And those things kind of happening back-to-back, we kind of hit this point of, like, what do we want to do? We want to do something that makes us happy. Live somewhere else that really makes us happy. … We fell in love with coffee after that happened.”
While mourning Noah’s brother and mother and taking time off work, the Markowichs bought their first espresso machine and learned about the art of brewing. The idea of opening a coffee shop began to form as they shifted their lives to align with their dreams. They sold their home in Edgewood and moved to Covington last October. Whether it was a little bit of magic or just a coincidence, The Cauldron’s future space was just across the street from the couple’s new home.
“We moved here just kind of with the idea of, like, we want to do this in Covington, and we didn’t really have a spot in mind, and we just kind of slowly, just kept working on it,” Noah says. “It’s funny, actually: When we were just walking past one day, there was a sign in the window that said it was for lease, and we weren’t ready to do it right then and there, but it was just too perfect of a scenario. Too perfect of a space.”
At The Cauldron, guests can expect a warm and inviting space to work, study, socialize or just relax; think the cozy cottage of a kitchen witch: clean neutrals of linen and wood mixed with eclectic chairs, tables and decor to make you feel at home and something always brewing and bubbling behind the counter. Those who practice kitchen witchcraft view the kitchen as a sacred space, and their craft often focuses on infusing everyday life with magic through intentional practice in the culinary arts. That level of intention is what Noah and Brittany want to bring to the cafe’s menu.
“I think it’s really important to [make coffee] with intention and do it right. Because, if we were to mess it up, I feel like you’re doing the farmer a disservice. You’re doing the roaster a disservice by not putting enough care into it. So I think it’s very important to be intentional. It kind of honors the whole process,” Noah says.
The Cauldron’s menu will offer third-wave coffee, a style that focuses on the artisanal side of coffee, with a focus on high-quality specialty beans and ethical farming and sourcing practices, with beans from South Carolina roaster Methodical Coffee.
“I compare it to craft cocktails, but craft coffee. So it’s really focused on not-your-average flavor profiles. We’re trying to come up with stuff that’s maybe a little out of the box,” says Brittany. “Everything on our menu — it’s all gonna be intentful. From drip all the way to even lemonade or tea or anything. … It’s more about letting everyone enjoy the experience of just a good quality cup of coffee, consistently.”
Noah has also been practicing crafting seasonal drinks, like a matcha latte made with apple cider, and Brittany says they’re hoping to work with North South Baking in Covington to offer pastries and breakfast sandwiches. They’re also hoping to offer events — floating ideas like book clubs, yoga pop-ups and craft nights — once they’re more comfortable running the cafe.
The Markowichs hope to open The Cauldron by the end of October, but will announce an official date in the coming weeks. In the meantime, they’re hoping the work they’re doing will shape The Cauldron into a third space where everyone can feel welcome.
“Just really a place people can go and feel like they have a sense of community around here. There’s so many really great local businesses; it would be great to have everyone connect over a great cup of coffee or just meet new people on a daily basis,” Brittany says.
Once open, The Cauldron will be open Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You can stay updated on its progress on The Cauldron’s Instagram page, @ourcauldroncafe.