How Kribi Coffee Uses Per Diem to Power Loyalty and Mobile Ordering
80.46%
increase in app store views
395%
increase in app downloads
239.72%
increase in app sessions
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Jacques and Jeremiah Shalo founded Kribi Coffee in 2019 and partnered with Per Diem early this year to offer mobile ordering, loyalty rewards, and a smoother customer experience. Since then, they’ve continued to grow their operations with new features like store credit and in-app promos.
The father-son duo had always dreamed of creating a coffee brand that blended quality, heritage, and innovation. In 2019, they turned that dream into reality and opened the doors to Kribi Coffee in Forest Park, Illinois.
Jacques, who was born on his family’s coffee farm in Cameroon, brought decades of firsthand knowledge to the roastery. His son Jeremiah took the lead on branding and business operations, shaping Kribi’s distinct identity and guiding its growth. Together, they built a space rooted in their story, committed to great coffee, and ready to grow with the right tools in place.
Jacques and Jeremiah knew that if they were going to build a café that reflected their story, the roasting process had to be part of it. They didn’t want to just serve coffee. They wanted to help people experience it in a new way.
Instead of using traditional drum roasting, which can sometimes leave coffee tasting burnt or bitter, they decided to roast with hot air. This method, called air roasting, brings out the natural flavor of the bean. It also removes the chaff early, helping create a smoother, cleaner cup.
For a lot of guests, this made a real difference. People who once thought coffee was too harsh started coming back. Some said they didn’t even need to add cream or sugar anymore. That shift helped Kribi build a loyal following.
Today, the team still roasts in small batches and focuses on freshness. It’s the same approach Jacques learned growing up around coffee farms in Cameroon. And it’s one of the reasons Kribi continues to stand out.
At the heart of Kribi Coffee’s brand is a strong focus on people. Jacques brings the origin knowledge and sourcing expertise. Jeremiah leads the creative direction and community-building side of the business. Together, they have grown Kribi from one café into a brand with a purpose.
Every detail, from the café layout to the packaging design, has a story behind it. Their shared vision is clear: serve coffee that honors its origin and create a space where customers feel connected, not just served.
Their story resonates with guests, many of whom become regulars after just one visit. The combination of origin, technique, and hospitality helps Kribi stand out in a market where authenticity matters more than ever.
Looking to speed up service and offer more flexibility, Kribi Coffee partnered with Per Diem in early 2025 to introduce mobile ordering and loyalty rewards. Their goal was to deliver a faster, more seamless experience without losing their personal touch.
Per Diem set up a fully branded mobile app in just 24 hours, giving Kribi the tools they needed to offer easy ordering and payments. The platform also gave them more control over customer rewards, which they quickly put to use through store credit incentives. Guests who load $45 into their account receive an extra $5—an offer that encourages repeat visits while keeping things simple for staff.
The Kribi team valued how responsive and collaborative the process felt. When they needed something, it was handled quickly. They didn’t just get handed a system and left to figure it out. As Jeremiah put it,
“The level of customization and user-friendliness for business owners is honestly unmatched. I have never seen a system this intuitive and robust.”
Per Diem’s marketing support stood out to Kribi’s team as well. In addition to the core platform, Kribi received physical and digital marketing assets to help promote their new ordering options and loyalty program.
They shared: "We also really appreciate the complimentary physical and digital marketing materials”.
These materials helped Kribi create awareness inside the café and online. With signage, display cards, and promotional graphics, they could guide guests to download the app, sign up for rewards, and return for more.
Alongside their existing Square Loyalty program, the team at Kribi wanted an additional way to keep guests engaged without depending on discounts or complex promotions. So, they decided to offer Per Diem’s store credit feature too, which gave them the flexibility to offer rewards that felt intentional and easy to manage.
When a guest adds $45 to their account, Kribi gives them an extra $5 in credit. This small bonus acts as a thank-you for committing to return, and guests appreciate the added value. It’s a straightforward system that avoids the need for physical cards or printed coupons.
Because it’s all handled digitally, there’s no extra tracking needed. Guests can see their balance in the app, and staff never have to manually apply rewards. It saves time during service while still making customers feel acknowledged.
The offer has already proven to be a simple but effective way to drive repeat visits. Many regulars now choose to preload credit and use it for quick orders, often skipping the line entirely. For Kribi, that convenience pairs well with their focus on efficiency and service.
For the Kribi team, working with Per Diem has meant more than just having an app that functions well. What stood out most was the level of care that came with the partnership, from fast setup to thoughtful features to real marketing support.
In addition to the branded mobile app, Kribi received both physical and digital marketing materials to help introduce their loyalty program and ordering tools. Signage, table cards, and digital graphics made it easy for them to share the update with guests.
As they shared:
"We've never experienced that level of support from an app partner before. It's refreshing and genuinely useful, and the fact that you offer help in ways beyond just providing the app is truly praise-worthy."
Having these resources on hand made the rollout smooth. It also gave their team the confidence to promote the new tools clearly, both in-store and online.
To check our complete marketing assets package, visit this page.
Kribi Coffee was built with purpose. From the way the beans are roasted to how customers are welcomed, every part of the business reflects care and intention. As Jacques and Jeremiah continue to grow their café, they look for tools and partnerships that reflect those same values.
Working with Per Diem has given them more than just technology. It has brought new ways to connect with guests, reward loyalty, and simplify everyday operations. The process felt collaborative from the start, and that support has helped them move faster while staying focused on what matters most.
As Jeremiah shared:
"We're so glad we found Per Diem and can't wait to see what else is to come."
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