By Aphrodite Kotrotsios
For Eleni Anastasopoulos, founder and owner of Koupa Espresso Bar in Haddon Township, New Jersey, coffee was never just a beverage. It was a way of life long before it became a business.
Her earliest memories trace back to Greece, where family, tradition, and coffee were inseparable. As a child, Eleni took her first steps inside her grandfather’s café, a familiar gathering place that reflected the essence of the Greek kafeneio, a space centered on conversation, connection, and community. At the time, she could not have known that those early moments would quietly shape her future.
Born in Greece, Eleni immigrated to the United States as a young child after her father came to New York to play professional soccer. Though she was raised in the U.S., Greece remained central to her identity. In 1996, she returned and spent nearly 15 years there, raising her children and fully immersing herself once again in the European coffee culture she loved.
“In Greece, coffee shops are not rushed,” Eleni says. “They’re places where people connect, talk, and spend time together.”
That philosophy would later become the foundation of Koupa Espresso Bar.
After returning permanently to the United States in 2010 following the economic downturn in Greece, Eleni worked for many years in retail. But the dream of opening a coffee shop never left her. Coffee had always been part of her life. Her first job at 15 was as a barista, and the influence of her parents was constant. Her father had years of experience working in cafés, while her mother was known for her homemade spanakopita, which would later become one of Koupa’s signature offerings.
The defining moment came during a visit to England, where her eldest son was studying and playing soccer. Sitting in a small café, Eleni tasted a coffee that immediately stood out.
“It was the best coffee I had ever had,” she recalls. “I turned to my husband and said, ‘We have to open a coffee shop.’”
Determined to build something authentic, Eleni and her husband traveled overseas for professional training, studying at Prufrock Coffee with Square Mile Roasters in the United Kingdom. That experience established Koupa’s commitment to quality and technique. Today, Koupa continues that dedication through ongoing training with Intelligentsia Coffee, with regular sessions in New York City and in-house training for baristas.
Finding the right name took months. Eventually, the answer came from Eleni’s roots. “Koupa,” the Greek word for cup, felt simple, familiar, and deeply personal. It was an everyday word that reflected both Greek heritage and the café’s welcoming spirit.
Located in Haddon Township, Koupa Espresso Bar quickly became a neighborhood gathering place. Locals, families, and coffee enthusiasts were drawn to its authentic European café experience rooted in Greek tradition. From the beginning, it was a family effort. Eleni’s parents were present daily. Her father assisted behind the counter, while her mother spent countless hours preparing spanakopita by hand. As demand grew, Koupa transitioned to importing traditional spanakopita directly from Greece, maintaining authenticity while meeting customer needs.
Koupa Espresso Bar opened in Haddon Township in 2019, only to face an unexpected shutdown just three months later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainty was overwhelming, but Eleni persevered. Koupa reopened in May 2020 and steadily regained momentum.
Today, Koupa Espresso Bar continues to thrive in Haddon Township. It is known for its high-quality coffee, welcoming atmosphere, and spanakopita that has been consistently recognized among the best in South Jersey.
The business remains family-run, with Eleni’s younger son, Christos, now involved and focused on future expansion.
For Eleni Anastasopoulos, Koupa Espresso Bar is more than a café. It is the continuation of a family legacy, a bridge between Greece and the Greek-American experience, and a reflection of resilience, culture, and connection.
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