Lelo’s Coffee Co. is preparing to expand its business with a new espresso-focused shop in East McKinney, bringing its specialty coffee offerings to a brick-and-mortar location for the first time. The wholesale coffee company, owned by husband-and-wife team Derek and Sandy Davis, plans to begin serving Spanish- and Italian-style espresso drinks from a walk-up window located inside a repurposed grain silo on the north end of the Tupps Brewery property.

The shop is expected to open in mid-March at 402 E. Louisiana St., Building 1.

Coffee Roasting and Future Café Plans

In addition to serving espresso drinks, the business will roast coffee beans on-site, Derek Davis said. Plans are also in place for a future expansion that would convert a nearby building into a full café. The menu will emphasize highlighting the unique flavor profiles of coffees sourced from different regions around the world. Davis noted that coffee beans from Ethiopia, one of his personal favorites, often feature berry and chocolate notes, while beans from South America may carry flavors like cacao and nuts.

“Where we’re going to set ourselves apart is focusing on what each individual coffee tastes like and how we can express that,” Davis said.

Part of Tupps Brewery’s Small Business Program

Lelo’s Coffee Co. is part of Tupps Brewery’s Build-Your-Own-Business (BYOB) program, an initiative designed to help small businesses operate within the brewery’s development and benefit from its customer traffic. The program debuted several small businesses at the site earlier this year. “The BYOB program is a very good opportunity for us small businesses,” Davis said. “If we’re attached to a larger business that brings in foot traffic, more people will discover our businesses.”

A Coffee Company Inspired by Family

The company’s name comes from Luis Ayala-Bousono, Sandy Davis’ grandfather. Family members called him “Lelo” because younger children had difficulty pronouncing the Spanish word “abuelo.” Derek Davis said his interest in coffee roasting began after visiting a café in Florida that transformed into a whiskey lounge in the evenings.

Founded in 2017, Lelo’s Coffee Co. started as a wholesale coffee roaster and has since partnered with several restaurant groups, including Frontburner Restaurants and 33 Restaurant Group. “We are a specialty coffee company,” Davis said. “It’s all high-grade, organic, fair trade coffee. We really try to showcase that.”

The McKinney location will mark the company’s first physical storefront, giving customers a chance to experience its specialty coffee offerings in person.