ATLANTA, Texas - It may have seemed like an overnight sensation, but it wasn't.
More than a year in the planning, Cafe Crema coffee shop in downtown Atlanta has been percolating for awhile. It opened in late May.
Tanya Beers, her husband Greg and family spent a year and a half planning this espresso coffee concept and then putting it together.
Tanya had sought the guidance on many fronts, especially the expertise of an aunt, Lori Daniel, for the creation of their business plan.
They'd researched the community before picking the site at 111 E. Main St. They thrashed over whether there was an actual need and customer base for a specialty coffee shop in Atlanta. They went to work.
Its interior was professionally designed by a family member. Its all-white swirling logo was created by another family member.
Everything had been put together by the family working nights.
Tanya prepared herself, too. She completed a three-day barista school in Dallas and has been self-employed as a cake maker and decorator for several years.
The shop is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
In addition to special espresso coffee in many varieties, the shop also serves up herbal teas and lemonade, the latter made ready by a vigorous hand shaking.
"The teas are such as Oolong and Earl Grey by the brand Rishi. They are delightful refreshments hot or cold," said Tanya's daughter and employee Hailey Taylor.
Oolong is a dark green tea, and Earl Grey is a black organic tea with fragrance added, Taylor explained.
Cafe Crema also has pastries and sandwich wraps for extra satisfaction.
Two additional features give the customer a fresh experience. One is that the coffee is served in huge white tableware cups and saucers that are of special design. And on the surface of the coffee itself will be a floating white design that seems to be made of the cream.
Tanya can make several of these designs.
"We're going not just for the coffee but also the experience of being here," Hailey said.
So far, the reception by the public has been strong, Tanya said. A final interesting touch is that the interior is decorated with coffee sacks, which are lighted and arranged on the walls.
"These are the actual coffee sacks in which our coffee beans have been delivered," Tanya said. "We keep them so that we know how fresh our coffee is. That and knowing how to exactly prepare and serve coffee makes ours a truly special coffee."