Jian Zhou is the heart of a little café in Paoli, Pa.: Cup of Dreams Coffee and Tea. She’s a barista, owner and mom, pulling people into the cozy, warm corner that is her café.
Zhou always knew she wanted to run a coffee shop. She started Cup of Dreams in 2020, the first bubble tea store in the locality. Zhou intended for the business to be a traditional café, but was inspired by her daughter Sophia to introduce boba and bubble teas.
Currently, Cup of Dreams serves various types of coffee, teas, yogurt drinks, food and snacks. They have seasonal drinks that range from “Hopping Rabbit White Mocha” to “Bumble Bee Latte.” The café holds the award for the best boba shop on the Main Line.
When you walk in the door, a friendly chime welcomes you in, followed by a barista at the counter. The buzzing of coffee machines, the pouring of drinks and low chatter follows soon after.
Cafe owner Jian Zhou takes a customer’s order at Cup of Dreams Coffee and Tea in Paoli, PA on the evening of Thursday, March 29th, 2024. Cup of Dreams faces West, drawing in the sunset each evening.An exterior photo of Cup of Dreams at dusk. “I want this place to look like [you’re] dreaming, so people walk in and feel comfortable here,” Zhou said. “The vibe should be suitable for any occasion.”Drink labels with discounts pinned to the back of the bakery display case. Zhou and two employees make drinks on a busy day. Cup of Dreams hosted a BTS event on Feb. 18., filling the café with people.Customers sip drinks and make artwork at a K-pop BTS event. This was their second event at Cup of Dreams, and they plan to host more.Sweet items are showcased in the bakery case. Zhou emphasized that people don’t want big meals with their drinks, but would rather enjoy small snacks instead.Zhou adjusts items in the bakery display case after hours. She usually leaves the café half an hour after the official closing time.Zhou and her long-time employee Laiba Baig take a break on the couch during a slow afternoon. Baig shows Zhou Instagram’s chat features.Zhou fixes a clogged coffee pot in the sink. As a small business owner, she oftentakes on various jobs to keep the café up and running.Zhou locks up the café before she heads home. She is all set to do it again in the morning.Cup of Dreams at night, after the cafe has closed. Zhou chose the décor to imitate a dream, hoping to stay true to its name.
