KungBrew Café serves up matcha, coffee and Asian heritage

Tucked into Covington’s MainStrasse Village, sits KungBrew Cafe. The café, opened by Hana Gallmeyer, blends Asian tea traditions with modern coffeehouse culture, offering guests a place to enjoy some ceremonial-grade matcha in an aptly decorated space. 

Setting KungBrew apart is the fact that tea isn’t a sidebar; it’s the star of the menu. Inspired by Gallmeyer’s Okinawan roots, the shop comes from the owner’s dedication to “mastering Asian tea brewing techniques, preserving her cultural roots.” What’s more, it comes as a way to honor her grandmother, writing on the shop’s website, “[Gallmeyer] is also acutely aware of the struggles her mother faced while migrating from Okinawa to the U.S. at the age of six.” 

As such, the menu features carefully crafted drinks that honor centuries of brewing rituals. Visitors can sip a smooth matcha whisked to order, try gyokuro or sencha tea and or enjoy a bubble tea. While tea anchors the experience, KungBrew hasn’t forgotten about coffee drinkers. Espresso drinks round out the menu, ensuring there’s something for everyone.  

With the tea highlighting Gallmeyer’s roots, it only makes sense that the events do as well. Tea tastings and cultural events are woven into the café’s calendar, offering guests a chance to learn about brewing methods, reinforcing the café’s mission to bring people together.