Kohiko Coffee House cofounder Nicolas Tanaka spent a week in Brazil meeting coffee farmers, won the World Latte Art Championship twice and later became a licensed coffee grader.

Years later, that knowledge came to life as Kohiko, a Japanese-inspired coffee shop in Sugar Land. Still, the thing that stands out is not his coffee-trail of experience, but the intense focus on family and hospitality.

On the menu: The Japanese-American coffee house’s signature drinks include an Okinawa latte of black sesame and brown sugar, Nicolas Tanaka said. Another popular item is a moshi moshi, meant to honor his grandma with the taste of banana bread, made of matcha, espresso, banana and brown sugar.

The mission: Kohiko runs on a mission of omotenashi, or hospitality, Nicolas Tanaka said. He opened the location with sister and cofounder Krystal Tanaka, hoping to give the community a third space.

Looking ahead: Nicolas Tanaka said this is currently their only location, but they are looking to open a second shop, although a timeline and location have not been announced.

Playa Bowls, a smoothie and juice franchise, opened its fourth Houston location near Sugar Land Town Square, owner Aliyah Slater said.

On the menu: The eatery is best known for its acai bowls with the most popular being the Nutella bowl, topped with blueberry flax granola, banana, strawberry, coconut flakes and a drizzle of Nutella, Slater said.

The shop also offers: 

• Coconut and smoothie bowls

• Smoothies

• Fresh and cold-pressed juices

• Cold brews

Zooming out: The Jersey Shore franchise has 400 locations nationwide and has opened over 200 locations in approximately three years, per its website. This is Houston’s fourth location after shops in Fulshear, Magnolia and Spring all opened in the past year and a half.

• 2735 Town Center Blvd. N, Ste. R, Sugar Land 

Fort Bend County residents will choose between Tony Aranda and incumbent Grady Prestage for Precinct 2 commissioner in the Nov. 3 election.

The details: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been minimally edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Here's what we asked them:

• Why did you choose to run for this position?

• What are your qualifications for why you’d be a strong candidate in this role?

• What is your top priority if elected to represent the citizens of Fort Bend County?

• What do you think is the most pressing issue for Fort Bend County, and what will you do to address it?

• How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?

• How should the county prepare to address its fast-growing population?

The average annual insurance premium for a Texas homeowner rose 79% in six years, from less than $2,000 in 2020 to more than $3,500 this year, Texas Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford told state lawmakers Oct. 5.

The overview: The rise in home insurance costs has been caused by severe weather, high inflationary costs impacting home repairs and "the concentration of risk" in the insurance market, Crawford said.

Experts said hardening homes against severe weather could help reduce expensive losses from disasters, resulting in lower insurance premiums.

Zooming in: Proponents of home-hardening incentives have pointed to their success in other Gulf Coast states, such as Alabama. Texas consumer advocacy groups and the insurance industry backed proposals to create a similar grant program last year, according to previous Community Impact reporting, but those measures did not pass.

"Resilience helps homeowners long before it shows up in an insurance bill because a stronger home holds up better when the storm comes," said Chelsea Stallings, a regional vice president for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.