Fresh coffee in a can? These Tri-Cities shops put new twist on to-go drinks

Tropical Express opened eight years ago as a small drive-thru coffee stand in Othello, launched by founder Jose Rodriguez.

“I come from a family of business,” Rodriguez said. “My parents owned a restaurant, and I always loved going to coffee shops, trying new drinks. I knew I wanted to open something of my own.”

So when he saw a small drive-thru building for lease in Othello he jumped in, despite not knowing much about the coffee world at the time.

With the help of Chris Gorchels, the owner of High Pockets Roasting in the Tri-Cities, Rodriguez dove head first into the industry. The local roaster not only supplied his beans, but mentored him through the start up process.

Five years later, Rodriguez expanded to the Tri-Cities, first opening on Columbia Drive in 2022.

“Othello was great to us, but it’s a smaller town. There’s only so much room to grow,” he said. “We saw the Tri-Cities as a place where we could really evolve.”

And evolve it has.

Tropical Express now operates three locations, with a fourth in the works in Pasco. At each shop, customers can expect colorful, fruit forward drinks, a tropical inspired vibe and a playful, summery atmosphere even in the middle of winter.

But its Rodriguez’s newest innovation that has been making the biggest splash: drinks served in sealed cans.

The can craze

The idea for canned drinks was born out of necessity, the third Tropical Express location, at The Hub off of Canal Drive on Skagit Ave., lacks a drive-thru, a challenge in a region where convenience is key.

“People just naturally lean toward the convenience of a drive-thru,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to create something that would draw people in, give them a reason to park, come inside, and try something new.”

So he launched an exclusive line of drinks served in custom cans. They’re bright, glittery, sealed on-site and made for Instagram.

“I’d done a lot of research, and nobody in the Tri-Cities was doing it yet. I had to really dig to find the machines and suppliers,” he said. “I think I beat Sip & Co. by just a few weeks.”

The response? Immediate.

“We weren’t even ready for it,” he said, laughing. “As soon as someone made a TikTok, it just blew up. Sales at that location doubled almost overnight. I had a line around the building.”

The canned drinks are both aesthetic and practical. Customers can save them for later or sip on the go and they look great on social media. While sourcing the cans has become a bit of a logicistal headache — Rodriguez says lead times can run up to eight weeks — he’s working to keep up with the demand. Right now, the cans are only available at The Hub location, but that may change in the near future.

Vibrant Flavors and Team Spirit

Tropical Express doesn’t just rely on looks. Their drinks are known for being packed with flavor and often include fresh fruit or colorful ingredients like edible glitter. Popular items the Ocean Mist, a shimmery blue drink, the Pink Paradise, topped with cold foam, and the Nutella Latte also come canned.

Rodriguez runs the business with his wife, and says their monthly specials are a full team effort.

“Our baristas are super creative,” he said. “They pitch drink ideas, we test them, and if everyone loves it — it goes on the menu.”

Coffee lovers, don’t worry, Tropical Express is also serious about espresso.

“People think we’re just smoothies or fruity drinks, but we have amazing coffee too. It’s roasted locally and we have tons of options,” Rodriguez said.

For first timers, he recommends trying the Peach Passion energy drink or the Aloha Latte, which blends white chocolate and macadamia.

For those chasing the next viral trend, he just launched another fun offering: bucket cups, a jumbo sized summer exclusive.

“We just launched them a couple days ago, and they’re already starting to take off,” he said.

What’s next?

As Rodriguez looks ahead, he’s excited to continue growing, especially in the Tri-Cities. But he’s also quick to acknowledge his roots.

“Othello was the backbone of our business for five years,” he said. “We wouldn’t be here without it.”

Whether it’s a brightly colored energy drink, a custom can or your daily latte, Tropical Express is quickly becoming a standout name in the local coffee scene, with no signs of slowing down.

A Shared Trend. A Unique Twist

Tropical Express isn’t the only local spot leaning into the canned drink craze. Around the same time, Sip & Co., a drive-thru cafe in Pasco, launched its own version of sealed ready to go beverages, quickly gaining buzz for their creative flavor combos and sleek branding.

Rodriguez sees the canned drink craze as a chance to grow together — one that leaves room for everyone and encourages coffee shops to keep raising the bar.

“I see it as a shared trend. Definitely friendly competition,” Rodriguez said. “I think as the concept becomes more popular it’s destined that more coffee shops will begin to offer them, and the Tri-Cities is big enough where we can all get our share. Plus a little friendly competition helps keep us all on our toes to be the best we can.”