Chris is the owner of Philter Coffee in Kennett Square. Philter is my favorite new place in KSQ. Everytime I go there, I feel like I’m sit in a coffee shop in Brooklyn. I like the interior design, the tea, the atmosphere etc.

When did you fall in love? I mean with coffee

I first fell in love with the aroma of coffee as a boy in my Great Grandmother’s kitchen. As I grew older, I fell in love with the social aspects of coffee. In the last ten years I’ve continued to fall in love with the flavors of coffee and the science and technique of bringing those flavors to the cup.

What made you decide to open a coffee shop?

As a kid, in the city, we shopped in small stores that specialized in certain things. I always admired the people who owned those stores and dreamt of having my own business. My interest in coffee, science, and social interaction kind of led me to do this.

Why did you choose this location?

The storefront itself was appealing mostly because of the layout, it was the most fitting space that I looked at in the six years that I have been poking my nose through Kennett. I also found the borough and landlords to be great to work with. I chose Downtown Kennett Square because I saw an opportunity to bring something that I believe is special to a town that has made me fall in love with it since moving here.

What would you advise to someone who wanted to open their own shop?

My advice would be to have a clear vision of what you are going to do and make sure that you feel confident that you can deliver that experience consistently.

I like your shop’s style, where did you get your inspiration?

It came together organically, I didn’t really have a plan. With every space I looked at, I had a different design, name and brand that reflected my feelings for that location. With Philter, I knew i wanted a more urban feel and I thought the wall colors would show art well. I knew the white washed floors would hide the salt stains from peoples shoes in the winter weather and also brighten up the space. With those decisions made, the rest was just a matter of finding different textures and shapes that would compliment the layout.