Inspired by a Coffeepreneur®, This Coffee Cart Was Born
When Zack Lane and his wife, Alexis, first visited De Ra Coffee, Zack hadn’t had coffee in years. But Alexis wanted to try out the cafe, so he decided to taste a cup of De Ra’s coffee and was blown away. It was the best coffee he’d ever tasted! “The idea for coffee came from falling in love with that cup,” he says.
Not long after, Zack asked the De Ra owner, a Texas Coffee School Coffeepreneur®, if he could train under him. But instead, Zack was directed to our 3-Day Coffee Business Master Class® for a formal education. That’s where the idea for Collections Coffee Co. was born.
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Starting a Coffee Cart as a Young Family
Although the couple knew they wanted to start a business, Zack and Alexis have a young daughter and mortgage. As a first step into their coffee business, they wanted a smaller start-up investment. Since attending our class, they’ve put together a business plan that projects enough income to recoup their investment — by catering a specific number of events per month with their coffee cart.
The business couple invested in a Nuova Simonelli espresso machine. Then, they hired a carpenter to built a cart that could support the machine. Overall, they estimate their start-up costs to run around $16,000.
Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, Collections Coffee Co. cart just recently opened. Now, the owners are networking, building a customer base, and experimenting with partnerships and events. They to serve specialty drinks at weddings, corporate events, and other gatherings starting the fall of 2025.
Collections already soft-launched operations at a local YMCA, where they served coffee to employees and gym-goers for eight events. “The employees loved the coffee, everyone loved the coffee,” Zack gushes. Since then, the brand has accumulated a number of followers on Instagram, both newcomers and word-of-mouth referrals. And they’ve already made it on several wedding vendor lists!
Dividing Coffee Cart Tasks Between Two Partners
Mixing business and love can be an adventure, but Zack and Alexis have a smooth delegation system. Alexis has a background in finance, so she manages the bookkeeping. She’s also an artist and creates recipes that match customer profiles and the brand’s overall aesthetic.
Zack draws from his experience as a business owner in Las Vegas, where he was able to scale a small business quickly and profitably. After working 10-hour days, he taught himself a number of skills. “It showed me that I really want to be an entrepreneur,” he explains. “I want to own what I do. I want to serve the customers directly.”
Attend the Coffee Education Class That Former Students Rave About
If you dream of creating the perfect cup of coffee and serving customers in your own way, you can join the likes of Zack and Bassam, De Ra’s owner, who attended our 3-Day Coffee Business Master Class®. Who knows! Maybe your successful venture will inspire the next Coffeepreneur®!
Have everything you need to create a unique business concept, menu, marketing plan, and more before you step foot out our doors and into the coffee industry. You’ll invest in the success in your business — ultimately saving money and time on mistakes in the long run. Sign up for a weekend this spring or summer!
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