We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alyssa Azcarate. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alyssa below.

Alyssa , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Teatro Café was created with love and passion. When creating this brand, I was intentful that I wanted it to be true to my Mexican heritage roots and an extension of my childhood cultural upbringing. Coffee has been a passion of mine from a very early age. My grandparents introduced me to coffee. Coffee isn’t just about its delicious flavor or my passion for it; it’s also my way of staying connected to my grandparents, even as I grow older. That is where the cultural side of our brand comes in. The artistic side of the brand comes from my lifelong journey as a theatre artist, singer, and creative. Our social impact is aimed to bring creatives together to create over coffee. Teatro Cafe was not created solely as a business venture—it’s passion poured into every cup. As a mobile operation through the DFW, it’s not your typical coffee spot; it’s a sanctuary of flavors, culture, and community, where every sip is a journey into the human experience.
The name itself, ‘Teatro,’ translates to theatre, which reflects my belief that theatre tells the story of the human experience, coffee brings people together to share their own stories. We’re not just serving your daily caffeine; we’re creating a stage where stories unfold, connections are made, and memories are shared. Each drink tells a story—a story of heritage and of celebration of Latinx culture. We’re not just sharing coffee; we’re spreading a message of inclusiveness and diversity to the world. In a world where coffee culture thrives, We want the world to know that Teatro Cafe is more than just a coffee brand – we’re a movement. We’re passionate about using coffee as a catalyst for social change, cultural appreciation, and community building. Whether you’re sipping on a latte at one of our pop-up events or following along with us on social media, we invite you to join us in celebrating the beauty of Mexican culture and the power of coffee to bring people together. Together, we can create a more inclusive and connected world, one cup at a time.

Alyssa , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m so glad to have the opportunity to introduce you to Teatro Cafe. My name is Alyssa Azcarate, I am the creator and owner of Teatro Cafe. As a former barista, creative artist, and coffee enthusiast since age six. (thanks to my abuelas for sharing their love of coffee and heritage with me) When creating this brand, I was intentful that I wanted it to be true to my Mexican heritage roots and an extension of my childhood cultural upbringing. Coffee has been a passion of mine from a very early age. My grandparents introduced me to coffee. Coffee isn’t just about its delicious flavor or my passion for it; it’s also my way of staying connected to my grandparents, even as I grow older. Growing up along the El Paso border was a spiritual immersion of culture, art, food, and beverage. That is where the cultural side of our brand comes in. The artistic side of the brand comes from my lifelong journey as a theatre artist, singer, and creative. Our social impact is aimed to bring creatives together to create over coffee.

Teatro Cafe is more than just a coffee shop; it’s a cultural movement that aims to unify the DFW community through the shared experiences of coffee, culture, and storytelling. What sets us apart is our dedication to providing an immersive cultural coffee experience that celebrates our Mexican heritage while fostering connection among our customers.
Our journey to where we are today hasn’t been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. We’ve faced numerous challenges along the way, from navigating the complexities of starting a business as a first-gen business owner. Another obstacle is the mobility aspect of Teatro Cafe, we do not have a storefront yet. The challenge for our community is the accessibility and locations to reach us. Our upcoming plan is to expand. However, through perseverance, creativity, and a strong sense of community, we’ve overcome these obstacles and emerged stronger than ever.
Ultimately, I want the world to know that Teatro Cafe is more than just a coffee business; it’s a symbol of cultural unity, creativity, and human connection. Our story is one of resilience, passion, and the transformative power of coffee. Through Teatro Cafe, we hope to inspire others to embrace their own cultural heritage, celebrate diversity, and create spaces where all are welcome to share their stories, engage in the arts, and grow together as a community.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I want to pivot this question slightly. Although, I do not have a full team of employees yet. I do have my significant other and two siblings who are apart of our team. My significant other works almost every event with me. He tends to work register and assist with drink building. My brother helps with events when he can, he is my creative partner. He truly has been a great help with the marketing side of things for Teatro. My sister helps when she is able to and graciously learns about coffee to support my dream. Although, the Teatro Team is small right now and consists of immediate family. I think it has taught me about the type of leader I am and the leader I am becoming. I spend a lot of time thinking on my role as a leader. I think a great leader takes a lot of awareness, willingness to grow, communication, and the energy they bring to the room. As Teatro Cafe, continues to evolve, I am committed to being a great leader for my team and my community. I hope to always be the positive leader, I would have wanted to work with.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Teatro Cafe has been operating as a solo show on the operations end. It truly can be tough at times, I am the Operations Manager, inventory-keeper, barista, cultural education lead, the chef behind our recipes, social media manager, marketing coordinator, admin secretary, event and booking coordinator. There is always so much to do, it can be a lot at times for one person. However, what I do know is when I decided to do this I knew this was my passion project and soul purpose. Teatro Cafe will always be more than just coffee. For me, it is a way to honor my culture, stay connected to my grandparents. But beyond that it is an artistic movement, a communal beverage, and a movement to build a strong cultural arts community.
There were weeks where I worked 7 days straight and times where I was awake at 3:30 am prepping for events that lasted until 10pm that day. That is ultimately what I look back on and think about how much strength and resilience it took to do that. I don’t mind though, this has never felt like a job to me. Getting to share meaningful conversations with the community is what drives me, getting to see people smile after their sip of coffee is what keeps me in this game. Although, it has not been easy, it has been so worth it. It takes a lot of resilience, persistence, and strength to keep going. But I know the impact that I can bring to the community is worth it all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://teatro-cafe.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teatrocafe_/
• Other: Let’s stay connected on social media: @teatrocafe_