Texas Coffee School graduate and Coffeepreneur®, Tiffani Kocsis, owner of East Dallas Middle Ground, is no stranger to the coffee shop world. She says she grew up studying, spending time with friends and finding a second home at coffee shops. So it’s no surprise that after 20 years in education, writing a book, and raising a family, Tiffani set out to create her own vision of what a coffee shop would be.
We asked her a few questions about starting a successful coffee business in East Dallas and for her best tips for aspiring coffee shop owners.
Marta Alonzo, Texas Coffee School former student and owner of Sit & Sip with ME, has been working for someone else since 1986. That is, until she opened her own coffee business in 2023 in San Antonio, Texas.
“I’d rather work 100 hours for myself than 40 hours for somebody else,” Marta says.
Marta has always wanted to help others. She’s worked in nonprofits, the health department, and hospitals. But her emphasis has always been on building community.
When Heather and Rachael, two teachers from small-town Nebraska, decided to open their own coffee shop, they knew it would be a risk. But a magazine article, a song at a concert and a reconsidered building offer ushered in a new season of coffee shop ownership at River Mill Coffee Company.
The duo shared a mutual best friend and first met as members of their friend’s wedding bridal party. But they reconnected years later when their kids attended the same school and formed a friendship.
District Coffee in St. Cloud, MN, has only been open for nine months, but they’re doing many things right. It helps that the coffee shop was launched by Texas Coffee School former students, using the information they learned in our 3-Day Coffee Business Master Class!
Coffeepreneurs® Amie Danielson and Molly Windfeldt were both stay-at-home moms looking to take the next step. They wanted to provide a gathering place for their community. Thus, District Coffee was born with an “urban vibe in a suburban setting”
As Texas Coffee School we celebrates its 14th year, it’s great to see some of our early students still thriving. Brentwood Social House, founded by Suzanne Daniels in 2016, has stood the test of time and become a favorite among the local community.
What really makes Brentwood Social House stand out is its focus on community. Now, ‘community’ is a word that often gets overused. So many businesses say they want to build a community with their brand and their coffee shop,