The original store was the Dancing Goatscoffee shop on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The shop had been named after the apocryphallegend of the dancing goat that heralded the beginning of coffee. It was purchased in 2000 by Ken Zeff, a merchandisebuyer for J.C. Penney and native resident of Greenfield. As of 2003, the Crazy Mocha chain had growth to 3 locations. During 2004, the operation had doubled to 6 locations and 25 employees. The rapid pace of expansion raised questions among observers about whether the growth was sustainable. By 2008, the 21 locations required over 100 employees. In 2007, Zeff opened a store at PPG Place near to an existing Starbucks. The new location was to fill the void left by the closure of La Prima Espresso Company. Other downtown locations were developed to improve brand awareness. In 2009, the downtown flagship store was opened on Liberty Avenue in the Cultural District. In 2009, the expansion into Cranberry marked the first time the store had gone beyond City of Pittsburgh limits into the suburbs. That location was a direct challenge to nearby Starbucks locations had generated $1 million per year. Crazy Mocha was profiled by the Pittsburgh Business Times to highlight retail stores' issues with the 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh summit. On March 14, 2018, Crazy Mocha was purchased by the , located in Cranberry Township, Pa. Kiva Han and Crazy Mocha now operate under the parent company of Ed's Beans, Inc., of which Ed Wethli is the owner.
Business philosophy
Each location has its own vibe, often themed along with the neighborhood. The Shadyside location matches the art-conscious neighborhood, South Side location has a faux-iron canopy hanging over the tables in honor of the area's industrial past, and the location at the SouthSide Works is based off a trendy Brooklyn cafe. The Bloomfield location teamed up with The Dreaming Ant, an independent video rental store. Crazy Mocha has been an early newcomer to urban rehabilitation in Lawrenceville and the North Side. The 2010 opening of the North Side location was hailed as the cornerstone of a redevelopment effort in that neighborhood.
