Introduction to Tawney Coffee
BRIGHTON PARK — Tawney Coffee is fundraising to open in Brighton Park. Darla Torres and her younger brother, Christian Torres, started Tawney Coffee out of their home last year. The two would go door to door, selling coffee to neighbors, and set up at farmers markets. When the market season ended, they even opened a coffee shop out of a car.
The Journey of Tawney Coffee
Now, the two are looking to open a permanent cafe for the neighborhood at 3055 W. Pope John Paul II Drive, with the goal of opening by December. They’re raising money via GoFundMe to cover the costs to renovate their space and turn it into a “cozy, welcoming” spot for neighbors, according to the campaign. They’ve raised about $1,100 of their $4,500 goal.
Darla Torres (left) and Christian Torres (right) opened Tawney Coffee last year, going door-to-door with their coffee creations. Credit: Darla Torres
The Inspiration Behind Tawney Coffee
The shop “is a big investment, and the GoFundMe is a little push [and] makes people feel like they’re part of something a lot bigger and contributing to something bigger,” Darla Torres said. The cafe offers specialty drinks like horchata lattes and the Coquette — topped with pink whipped cream — alongside classic espresso drinks and pastries. Customers can also buy its coffee beans, which are imported from Chiapas, Mexico. The business was inspired by their parents: Their mother owned a jewelry store, and their father has taught them the importance of finance and sales practices.
The Growth of Tawney Coffee
The brother and sister were introduced to coffee while helping their mother at an event, and they decided to combine coffee with the lessons they’d learned from their parents about entrepreneurship. “We wanted to practice what we learned,” Darla Torres said. The two started at farmers markets, where they could sell beans. When the markets closed, their father built them an espresso machine in the back of their car so they could go to customers, selling their coffee. They began offering their coffee in neighborhoods around the city, including Ravenswood and Logan Square.
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