When Veronica Ratcliff left her career in corporate human resources after nearly 20 years, she knew it was time to finally chase a lifelong dream. She had worked at companies like Airbnb, Merck Pharmaceuticals, and Under Armour, but deep down she always pictured herself owning a community-centered business.
This summer, that dream became reality. Veronica launched Odd Roots, a mobile coffee trailer in South Austin, inspired in part by outdoor adventures from her Northern California upbringing.
At Sayfani Coffee House, coffee is more than just a beverage. It’s a universal language that connects people, tells stories, and celebrates heritage. Founded in 2023 by entrepreneurs Omar Ahmed and Abdallah Abdullah, Sayfani has quickly become a beloved community hub in North Texas, bringing authentic Yemeni coffee to the Dallas metro area.
In this article, we share the Texas Coffee School graduates’ success story as they’re on their way to opening a third North Texas location–from Allen to Coppell to Sachse.
Imagine stepping into a coffee shop where every detail is designed to evoke the thrill of travel. There are airplane-inspired windows, travel-themed menu items, and a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. Welcome to Window Seat Coffee, Dallas’s beloved neighborhood café that combines exceptional craft coffee with a sense of adventure and discovery. Owned by Kristen and Tom Boyd, this unique coffee shop has quickly become a staple on Greenville Avenue for locals and travelers alike seeking a little escape with every sip.
Most students who come through our doors have a vision—of roasting beans, curating menus, and managing baristas for the popular brick-and-mortar coffee shop they launched, starting in our classroom. Maybe they’ll even run multiple locations! And while this is a worthwhile (and achievable!) dream, an investment in a coffee business can sometimes feel out of reach.
That’s why many aspiring coffee shop owners are finding new avenues to building their businesses. Some are turning to coffee trucks,
Justin and Corinna Valdez both possessed an entrepreneurial spirit, but it took the right idea to bring it to life. “We always wanted to own a coffee shop, but it felt like a pipe dream,” Justin says. One day, Corinna suggested—what if they opened a coffee truck instead? The idea was sound, and Inspira Coffee was born.
The financial investment was significantly lower, and the truck could be driven to where customers were,