Why Not Café™ started with a question.
A simple one. One that changed everything: Why not?

It didn’t begin in a boardroom or with a business plan. It started between espresso shots and closing shifts, in the quiet moments behind a café counter. Two friends, Juan and Mikaila, looking at each other and wondering what could happen if we stopped waiting and built something of our own.

What if we created the space we always wished existed?

What if we trusted ourselves enough to try?

We didn’t have all the answers. But we had the courage to ask the question. Why not us?

From Mantra to Mission

“Why not?” started as a small phrase a push forward, a reminder not to shrink ourselves. Over time, it became a mindset. A way of choosing boldness over fear and movement over hesitation.

That belief became the foundation of Why Not Café: a café and lounge concept built on curiosity, creativity, and the freedom to do things differently. We wanted to challenge what a coffee shop could be not by being louder, but by being more intentional.

Our Vision

Why Not Café is California’s first smoked coffee house and lounge.

By day, we focus on smoke infused coffee, matcha, and cold brew layering flavor using dried fruits, herbs, florals, and wood to create drinks that are bold, balanced, and unexpected.
By night, the space shifts into a lounge, serving smoked cocktails, espresso martinis, and bar-style drinks that carry the same warmth and depth.

This is a place for people who love atmosphere as much as flavor. For those drawn to moody lighting, layered tastes, and experiences that feel a little different from the norm. For anyone ready to move on from the predictable and step into something with soul.

Rooted in Home, Built to Grow

Our story is rooted in San Jose and Sunnyvale the places we grew up, worked, and imagined what this could become. These communities shaped us, challenged us, and gave us the confidence to dream bigger. Why Not Café was created with them in mind, and it’s where we hope to bring this vision to life first.

And this is only the beginning.

Our vision reaches beyond one space. We see multiple Why Not Café locations across California, each one carrying the same heart, the same curiosity, and the same belief in bold ideas. Every location designed as a place for conversation, creativity, and connection.

Our Mission

At Why Not Café, our mission is to:

• Reimagine coffee and cocktail culture through bold flavor and thoughtful technique

• Create a space that feels like a second home effortless, elevated, and welcoming

• Celebrate individuality and creativity in every drink and every guest

• Inspire others to trust themselves and chase the ideas they’re afraid to say out loud

Whether you’re sipping a Lavender Vanilla Bean Latte in the afternoon or winding down with a Applewood Whiskey Sour at night, you’re not just a customer here.

You’re part of the story.
Part of the reason this place exists.

So the next time you’re starting something new, chasing a dream, or questioning yourself
ask the same question we did.

Why not?