How to Open a Coffee Shop in Texas: Cpl. Ray’s Coffee Shows the Way

Thinking about opening a Texas coffee shop? Learn from the success of Cpl. Ray’s Coffee, a growing group of West Texas coffee shops.

A Tribute to Family and Community

Cpl. Ray’s Coffee began as a tribute to a fallen son and the local community that cherished him.

Jerry and Lonna Bevel wanted to honor their own hero, their son Corporal Ray Bevel. 

The Bevels lost Ray in 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ray’s second tour in Iraq. The overwhelming support the family received from their small hometown of Andrews, Texas inspired a desire to give back.

Learning to Open a Coffee Shop

Jerry and Lonna wanted to open a coffee shop to enrich the town and honor their fallen hero, but they had no idea where to start. Ultimately, they turned to Crimson Cup for training, coffee and ongoing support.

“Crimson Cup’s got a great product. The customer support – product support, technical support – that they give is just unparalleled.”

Jerry Bevel

Crimson Cup trained Jerry, Lonna and their daughter Keisha Arnold to open the first Cpl. Rays in Andrews in 2007.

They learned how to run a coffee shop through our 7 Steps to Success coffee shop franchise alternative.

7 Steps to Success: A Proven Coffee Shop Start-up Program

“One of our goals at Crimson Cup is to help entrepreneurs like Jerry and Lonna create coffee shops that bring people together in communities. It’s exciting to see how much they’ve grown.”

Greg Ubert, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

We take a hands-on approach to training and ongoing support. From scouting a profitable location to writing a successful coffee shop business plan, our 7 Steps coffee consultants stood behind the Bevel Family.

Crimson Cup’s Founder and President, Greg Ubert, wrote the book on running a successful coffee shop.

Now in its second printing, Seven Steps to Success in the Specialty Coffee Industry has given the Bevels and hundreds of other coffee shop owners a blueprint to success.

More than a Class … Consulting for Coffee Shop Growth

Because Crimson Cup offers more than a school or a franchise, the Bevels received ongoing support – from choosing equipment and hiring staff to hands-on training and marketing collateral.

“It’s just a one-stop shop. They want you to succeed, and they’re going to do everything they can to help you succeed.”

Jerry Bevel

After establishing a successful shop in Andrews, they opened a second Cpl. Ray’s Coffee in Odessa.

Now, over 12 years after that first shop, they are preparing a third Cpl. Ray’s at the Micro Mart shopping center in Midland, Texas.

Award-winning Coffee Tops the Menu

Jerry cited award-winning Crimson Cup coffee as a factor in the continuing success of Cpl. Ray’s Coffee.

“We offer the kind of experience and high-end coffee you see in Seattle and New York City coffee houses.”

Jerry Bevel

The signature Ray Ray’s Mocha headlines the menu. The shops serve a full range of hot, iced and frozen blended espresso-based drinks, plus cold brew coffee, hot and iced teas, pour-over coffees, blended smoothies, fresh pastries and more.

Over the years, Cpl. Ray’s Coffee has become a very special place for many West Texas residents and veterans to stop for a cup of coffee and great conversation.

Thinking about Opening a Coffee Shop in Texas?

Do you have questions about how to start a coffee shop? We’re here to help!  Give us a call at 888-800-9224 or fill out this form, and we’ll get right back to you.

Since 1991, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea has hand-roasted great-tasting specialty coffee in Columbus, Ohio. We’ve also taught more than 250 independent business owners in Texas and 36 other states how to open a coffee shop through our coffee shop franchise alternative program. 

We were honored to be selected as the 2019 Golden Bean Champion Small Franchise/Chain Coffee Roaster and the  2016 Roast Magazine Roaster of the Year.