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Even at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday, every table, bar seat, and armchair at Wishing Cup is filled with customers busy on their computers or immersed in conversation. The cafe’s guiding philosophy, “brew good, do good,” is displayed on the walls alongside artwork that further enhances a feeling of familial belonging, having been painted by the owner’s own mother.

Wishing Cup isn’t the first food and business venture recent Boston University grad Karan Dhamecha has started, as he attempted to run a late night pizza kitchen his sophomore year of undergrad. After that, he pursued industrial catering, which he continues to this day, providing meals to Boston public schools and shelters.

“It’s been instilled in my family from day one to always give back,” Dhamecha said.

From there, Dhamecha spent over a year working towards the Wishing Cup, which opened on July 3.

Reflecting on how the concept came to fruition, Dhamecha attributed his success to two factors.

“One, love for coffee and food, and two, the ability to actually do something greater than just serve a cup of coffee,” Dhamecha said.

The latter refers to the monthly wish-grantings that give the cafe its name. Anyone can write a wish to place inside the wishing cup; from the pool, three wishes make it to the cafe’s Instagram, where community members vote on which one to fulfill. The wishes range from manifestations of dream jobs to donations to local animal shelters.

In October, the cafe received 297 wishes, a dramatic increase from the 30 to 40 they usually receive. One of the latest winning wishes was granted to someone wanting to enroll in an English-learning program in order to make friends in Boston. Dhamecha hopes to eventually expand the wish-grantings to a daily affair.

Dhamecha doesn’t just want to give back to the community — he also wants to create one.

“It’s not just, ‘Okay, let me go run and grab a coffee and leave.’ We want to try and remember your order. We want to see your face repeatedly. We want to bring that sense of being, a sense of home. So, even though, yes, we’re granting a wish, it’s this whole experience of this positive manifestation when you enter the coffee shop,” he said.

Ana Assaad, a barista, has already formed friendships with customers who have become regulars. Assaad recalls one specific customer that comes in most mornings with her dog June and orders a double shot of espresso. June Bug, as she is nicknamed by the staff, gets excited when she sees Assaad — recognizing her as the woman “that gives her the pup cup.”

Moreover, Assaad enjoys the creative liberty that comes with privately owned business, which allows her to have conversations with customers and influence the menu, including crafting an Apple Pie Chai for a customer who now orders that on the daily.

When it comes to the written menu, its delightful mix of cultures mirrors the diversity of Boston, boasting flavors sourced from Vienna to the Middle East, which is fittingly where Dhamecha grew up. Most of the recipes — like the artwork — are made by Dhamecha’s mother, but they continue to evolve as staff share ideas.

Take, for example, the Air Matcha that customer Suraya Whymott saw on TikTok, which convinced her to bring along friend and fellow customer Ren Hagen to check it out together.

Whymott was shocked “by how good the food was,” endorsing the quality and flavor of their menu. Whymott and Hagen also plan to return with their laptops in hand, hoping to get some work done in the relaxing and friendly atmosphere.

Whymott and Hagen were not the only customers inspired to visit Wishing Cup for the first time via social media. Northeastern student Hannah Pfau thought the entire cafe — from the drinks to the wish-granting — was worth the hour-long trek on her day off.

At other cafes, Pfau usually gets her coffee to go.

“But then I saw the people with the cute cups and I was like, ‘Oh wait, nevermind. It’s too cute, I’m going to sit here until I finish my drink,’” she said.

Ultimately, Wishing Cup inspires people to slow down, enjoy the company of those around them, and uplift fellow Bostonians who are in need.