Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I didn’t come from a coffee background, per se, but I did grow up drinking coffee from a very young age, so the love for it was always there. I just didn’t realize for a long time that I could love coffee in a different way besides simply drinking it. I’ve also always loved vintage things, especially the 1950s. But the ’90s and early 2000s are personal to me in a different way, it’s my childhood, and so many of my favorite memories are tied to that time. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself wanting to bring some of that feeling back, which is why those eras naturally became part of Brew Velvet too.
Right around the time COVID hit, I actually started my first business, which was going to be a vintage clothing store. Unfortunately, because of the timing, it didn’t work out the way I had hoped, and I eventually had to close it.
One day in particular, my stepmom said to me, “You love coffee and vintage things. Why don’t you put the two together?” It sounds so simple now, but at the time, it completely changed the way I looked at coffee. I honestly didn’t even realize how much there was to coffee beyond brewing a pot at home, and that’s really where my obsession began.
Since I didn’t have an espresso machine yet, I started with cold brew and began creating my own flavors. Once I got my first Breville espresso machine, that’s when Brew Velvet really started to come alive. I watched countless YouTube videos teaching myself how to use an espresso machine, how to weigh and tamp coffee properly, and all the little details that go into pulling one good shot of espresso. I even taught myself latte art along the way.
The more I learned, the more I wanted to keep learning. Eventually, that love of coffee and vintage nostalgia came together as Brew Velvet. The name itself is a play on “Blue Velvet” and comes from my love of the 1950s. It also felt fitting because, when espresso is extracted, the rich, smooth stream can look almost velvety as it comes out of the machine. So “Brew Velvet” became a play on words that connected both the coffee itself and the vintage inspiration behind the brand.
What started with cold brew and a home espresso machine slowly grew into the mobile specialty coffee cart Brew Velvet is today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Honestly, the fun part was probably the smoothest- coming up with the name, creating the brand, developing the look and feel, and dreaming about what Brew Velvet could become.
The harder part was figuring out how to actually bring all of that to life while being a mom to three girls and working a full-time career in medical coding. There were a lot of nights and weekends spent researching, learning, testing recipes, figuring out equipment, and trying to build a business around an already very full life.
And then, of course, there was the financial side. Little did I know when I started that commercial coffee equipment is not exactly priced with a first-time business owner starting from the ground up in mind! I had to learn very quickly what was truly necessary, what could wait, where it made sense to invest, and how to grow without trying to have everything all at once.
There was also a huge learning curve because I wasn’t coming from the coffee industry. I was teaching myself about espresso, equipment, workflow, recipes, permits, health department requirements, pricing, events- all of it as I went. There have definitely been moments where I’ve wondered what I got myself into.
But every challenge has taught me something. I’ve learned how resourceful I can be, how much goes into running a business beyond the creative side, and probably most importantly, that building something from the ground up takes time.
We’ve been impressed with Brew Velvet Coffee, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Brew Velvet Coffee, my mobile coffee cart is based out of Murfreesboro, TN. I specialize in creating memories and nostalgia through coffee; taking familiar flavors, childhood references, and eras I love and turning them into drinks that feel thoughtful and personal.
What I’m most proud of is building something that feels completely my own. I want someone to take a sip of one of my specialty drinks and be taken back to a memory from their childhood, while also feeling genuinely welcomed in the moment. To me, Brew Velvet is about more than serving a good cup of coffee, it’s about creating a feeling people want to come back to.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know that I would call it luck. For me, it has been much more about perseverance- continuing to push forward even when things didn’t work out the way I hoped or when building the business felt harder than I expected. My faith also plays a huge role in how I look at my life and Brew Velvet. I believe in Jesus and trust that His plan and timing may not always look the way I imagined, but there is purpose in where He leads me. So for me, it has been less about luck and more about faith, persistence, and continuing to move forward.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brewvelvetcoffee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17xaBtbqM4/
