Yinz drink coffee?

A new brew will be available on March 1 when YINZ Coffee opens for business on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Located inside the former Crazy Mocha at the corner of Federal Street and North Avenue, the shop will serve coffee, tea, hot chocolate and pastries.

Owner Ken Zeff, a Greenfield native, started the Crazy Mocha coffee shop chain in 2000. He sold it in 2018.

“I began getting phone calls to get back into the business,” Zeff said. “I still have a passion for this business. And it just felt like now is a good time to open a coffee shop. I can help some landlords who haven’t been getting rent and also some employees who need work.”

Zeff knows the coffee business. He opened his first Crazy Mocha in Shadyside on Feb. 29, 2000 — yes, on a Leap Day. The business grew to 31 locations. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of last year.

Zeff also owns Fancypants Popcorn with locations in Lawrenceville and Downtown Pittsburgh. The Lawrenceville store is open while the Downtown spot in Liberty Center isn’t operating during the pandemic.

Teaming with 19 Coffee Co. in Baldwin, Zeff said he plans to open this year a few more YINZ Coffee locations.

David DiOrio, owner of 19 Coffee said he has worked with Zeff since his Crazy Mocha days. He said he will supply the store with micro-roasted specialty options.

“The coffee community in Pittsburgh is a tight-knit group,” said DiOrio. “I am overjoyed to work Ken again. I love that he will be selling high-end, upscale coffee.”

With that name, YINZ Coffee, “It is definitely about Pittsburgh,” Zeff said. “The shop will include locally-made products from the coffee we serve to a wall of merchandise filled with gift items.”

Courtesy of Ken Zeff YINZ Coffee is scheduled to open March 1 inside the former Crazy Mocha shop on Pittsburgh’s North Side.  

At the North Side spot, he’s had the floors refinished and the walls painted. The plan is to dress up the outside this week, weather permitting. The cafe will be open for on-site sipping, takeout and online orders.

Zeff said he learned business fundamentals as a buyer for men’s apparel for JC Penney, where he was responsible for $80 million in merchandise.

“I love this location because it’s the center of the North Side,” he said. “Allegheny General Hospital is close by and there is a lot of walk-by traffic and it’s not far from Heinz Field or PNC Park, once they can have more fans in the stadium.”

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