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.
Imagine you set out to run 10 miles but didn’t track your distance along the way. How would you know when you reached your goal? Your intuition, or how out of breath you are? Lacking tangible metrics–like distance, time, and speed–leads you to an easy miscalculation. But when finances and your business are at stake, a miscalculation could be fatal. That’s why you need to track coffee shop KPIs.
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.
At Texas Coffee School, we’re committed to staying up to speed on the latest industry trends, including coffee trends in 2024. Our 3-Day Coffee Business Master Class offers training systems that are constantly evolving—so that you’re prepared to face what’s ahead.
That’s why we’re bringing you our top trend picks from the National Coffee Association’s (NCA) 2024 National Coffee Data Trends Specialty Coffee Report. Plus, learn what these trends mean for your current or aspiring coffee shop!
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.