Local specialty coffee roaster and pop-up business Rainbow Calypso is making plans to go mobile.
Founder Olivia Velazquez-Alarcon, who goes by OVA, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the venture.
The fundraiser has a goal of $20,000 to cover the food truck, along with the costs of construction and all related equipment, from an espresso machine and refrigerators to signage and permits. They also have their sights set on acquiring a production space for roasting.
Since its January 2022 launch, the business has been serving up specialty coffee drinks and vegan treats at events in the Atlanta community like markets and concerts.
“Everything on my menu is vegan,” OVA told What Now Atlanta. “I like to keep it local, organic, non-GMO, as clean as possible, and also taste good too.”
New specialty drinks are created for each event, and they can be hot, iced or blended. Superfood powders such as beetroot and turmeric make for uniquely flavored plant-powered coffee drinks.
OVA has particularly enjoyed selling coffee at punk shows due to a personal connection to music, as well as the service that can be provided by having a fun and healthy coffee option available for concertgoers.
“I like to pop up at punk shows to provide a positive impact for younger folks that can’t necessarily drink, or people who are sober, or someone who doesn’t feel like drinking alcohol that night,” OVA said.
Originally from Alaska, OVA has worked in the coffee industry for 13 years and, along the way, acquired several Specialty Coffee Association certifications.
With the GoFundMe campaign now up and running, the ideal timeline for Rainbow Calypso’s future includes the purchase of a food truck, as well as an official production space, by spring 2024. The truck would be outfitted for both walk-up or drive-through service.
“The idea behind a mobile coffee truck was to be able to find an avenue or space in the city where I could park daily to operate as a walk-up and work toward a drive-thru window,” OVA said.
OVA said another future idea for Rainbow Calypso is to sell CDs and records from local musicians to further enhance the marriage between coffee and music that is celebrated by the business, and to continue popping up at concerts and other events both in and outside Georgia, the reach of which could expand with a truck.
[Editor’s Note: The goal amount of the GoFundMe campaign has been updated.]
