Zemi Coffee Cart

What Zemi Coffee Cart does

Zemi Coffee Cart is a mobile, pedal-powered coffee service based in Oak Park, Illinois, operated by Betancourt Family Corporation and led by owner Dominique. The company brings authentic Puerto Rican coffee culture to the Chicagoland area, sourcing 100% Arabica and Robusta beans exclusively from the Betancourt Family Farm in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. Its core offering is a full-service mobile coffee cart that caters weddings, block parties, corporate gatherings, school events, and community pop-ups, complemented by a fixed-location presence inside The People's Cafe partner cafe in Oak Park.

The product portfolio spans signature Puerto Rican beverages (Zemi Cafe Con Leche, Coco Cold Brew, Coquito Latte, Zemi Cortado), traditional espresso drinks, non-coffee options (Masala Chai Latte, Cocoa Rico Hot Chocolate, seasonal Frescas), specialty teas, Puerto Rican empanadas, and pastries. The retail arm includes packaged coffee beans (Mi Familia Blend, La Familia Series) and branded merchandise (apparel, drinkware, snapback caps) sold via a Wix-powered e-commerce storefront with on-demand fulfillment through Printify.

The business operates across multiple go-to-market channels: weekly recurring pop-ups at four Oak Park elementary schools (Longfellow, Holmes, Lincoln, Whittier) and Rehm Park, online booking for event catering, a cafe partnership at The People's Cafe, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Pricing is unit-based, with event tiers ranging from $35 to $150 and merchandise priced from $13 to $50 per item. Technology infrastructure is provided by Wix (website/booking), Stripe (payments), Dripos (POS and loyalty), and USPS (shipping), with no disclosed AI, data, or proprietary software components.

Name

Zemi Coffee Cart

Legal name

Betancourt Family Corporation

Website

https://zemicoffeecart.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zemi Coffee Cart is a mobile, pedal-powered coffee service based in Oak Park, Illinois, operated by Betancourt Family Corporation. It caters events and community pop-ups with authentic Puerto Rican coffee sourced from the Betancourt Family Farm, and also runs an e-commerce merchandise shop and a cafe partnership at The People's Cafe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Coffee Catering Services

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Espresso Bars & Coffee Bars (THAFADAD)

Keywords

• Mobile coffee catering
• Specialty coffee service
• Event beverage catering
• Artisan coffee beverages
• Branded coffee merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Catering Services: Full-service mobile coffee cart rental for events including weddings, block parties, corporate gatherings, and school events. Pricing based on duration and service type.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including coffee bags, apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, tanks), accessories (tumblers, mugs, caps), and kids gear through e-commerce storefront
3. Cafe Operations: Cafe-based coffee service operating inside The People's Cafe partner location

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zemi Coffee Cart is a mobile, pedal-powered coffee service that brings authentic Puerto Rican coffee and specialty beverages to events, community pop-ups, and a partner cafe in the Chicagoland area. The company sources 100% Puerto Rican Arabica and Robusta beans from the Betancourt Family Farm in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, and offers event catering packages (block parties, weddings, corporate gatherings, hot chocolate bars), weekly school and park pop-ups in Oak Park, retail coffee bags, and branded merchandise (apparel, drinkware, accessories).

Product overview

Zemi Coffee Cart operates as a mobile coffee cart service specializing in authentic Puerto Rican coffee, featuring a pedal-powered cart that brings coffee culture to events across Chicagoland (Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest). The core offering comprises mobile coffee and drink catering services for events including weddings, block parties, corporate gatherings, and school events. The product portfolio includes signature Puerto Rican coffee beverages (Zemi Cafe Con Leche, Coco Cold Brew, Zemi Cortado, Zemi Americano), traditional espresso drinks (Espresso Shot, Macchiato, Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha), non-coffee alternatives (Masala Chai Latte, Cocoa Rico Hot Chocolate, seasonal Fresca drinks), specialty teas, Puerto Rican empanadas, and pastries. The retail division includes packaged coffee beans sourced from the Betancourt Family Farm in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, and branded merchandise spanning apparel (T-shirts, hoodies, kids gear with 'Coco Cold Brew', 'Cocoa Rico', 'Chupa' themes), drinkware (tumblers, insulated mugs, ceramic mugs), and accessories (snapback trucker caps).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Familia Series: A rotating series honoring the family's Abuela who started it all on a small family farm in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, featuring coffee blends that celebrate the family's heritage.

Products and services

• Mobile Coffee Cart & Event Catering Full-service mobile coffee cart offering Puerto Rican coffee and specialty drinks for events including weddings, block parties, corporate gatherings, and school events. Features a pedal-powered cart and professional barista service, with flexible event packages.
• Block Party Service Mobile coffee cart service for block parties featuring pay-per-cup pricing, 1-hour minimum duration, bringing Puerto Rican coffee culture to community events.
• Hot Chocolate Bar Event Hot chocolate bar catering service for birthdays, celebrations, school events, and parties featuring Cocoa Rico hot chocolate made with Ghirardelli chocolate powder. 2-hour minimum service.
• Mobile Coffee & Drink Catering Full-service coffee and drink experience for special gatherings, weddings, events and parties, with starting pricing from $35 for the service.
• Cafe-based Coffee Service (The People's Cafe Partnership) Fixed-location coffee service operated inside The People's Cafe partner location in Oak Park, IL, where Zemi and The People's Cafe operate as independent businesses within the shared space.
• Coffee Bags (Retail Coffee Beans) Packaged Puerto Rican coffee beans for retail purchase, including Mi Familia Coffee Blend (light and medium roasted beans) sourced from the Betancourt Family Farm in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico.
• Branded Apparel Branded apparel including 'Coco Cold Brew', 'Cocoa Rico', and 'Chupa' themed T-shirts, hoodies, summer tanks, and kids wear featuring tropical graphics with Puerto Rican Coquí frog and coconut designs.
• Branded Drinkware Branded drinkware including Zemi Tumbler (12oz stainless steel vacuum-insulated), Zemi Insulated Coffee Mug (stainless steel with double-wall insulation, spill-resistant lid), and Zemi 'Drink All Day' Ceramic Mug (11oz).
• Zemi Snapback Trucker Cap Branded Zemi Snapback Trucker Cap with structured mid-profile six-panel design, breathable mesh back, adjustable plastic snap closure, and embroidered Zemi Coffee logo.

Quantifiable outcome

• Compostable cups and straws used for environmental sustainability

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DriposcoreTechnology or IntegrationLoyalty program management and POS services through Dripos platform. Dripos collects customer data for reward program including name and purchase history tied to rewards.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationSecure payment processing for all online and event transactions. Full credit card numbers are not stored on Zemi's servers.
• WixcoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite hosting and infrastructure platform powering the Zemi Coffee Cart website, e-commerce, and booking systems.
• USPSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping partner for merchandise delivery to customers placing online orders.
• The People's CafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCafe partnership where Zemi Coffee operates inside The People's Cafe shared space. Zemi and The People's Cafe operate as independent businesses within the shared environment.
• Betancourt Family FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily farm in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico providing authentic Puerto Rican coffee beans. The farm is the source of Zemi's farm-to-cup mission and La Familia Series coffee blends honoring the family legacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Metropolis Coffee Company: Chicago specialty roaster with cafe and wholesale operations. Operates in the same local market with a comparable specialty coffee positioning and established B2B accounts.
• Dark Matter Coffee: Chicago-based specialty roaster and multi-location cafe operator. Competes for the same specialty coffee customer base in Chicagoland with significantly more scale and brand recognition.
• Sparrow Coffee: Chicago-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe. Comparable regional specialty coffee operator competing for the same local Chicagoland customer base.
• Big Shoulders Coffee: Chicago-based specialty coffee roaster serving cafes, wholesale, and direct customers. Competes for the same regional Chicago specialty coffee demand with an established wholesale and retail presence.

Direct peers

• Brewbike: Operates pedal-powered mobile coffee carts primarily on college campuses. Closest direct peer — same pedal-powered mobile format, same event-driven coffee service model, and similar asset-light unit economics.
• Pedalers Coffee: Austin-based mobile coffee service using pedal-powered bikes/carts for events and pop-ups. Same pedal-powered mobile model targeting events and community pop-ups, with regional rather than national scope.

Broad incumbents

• Intelligentsia Coffee: Chicago-originated specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain that helped define the U.S. third-wave coffee movement. Operates in the same Chicago market with broader cafe and wholesale footprint; sets the competitive bar Zemi must differentiate against.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Established specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain. Comparable as a scaled specialty brand that has built distribution, cafe presence, and wholesale accounts Zemi would aspire to reach.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: National specialty coffee chain with a strong mobile/pop-up heritage. Comparable as a craft coffee brand that scaled from farmers' market pop-ups to national cafe operations, illustrating the potential ceiling of the format Zemi operates.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: National specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain. Comparable as a specialty coffee brand that has scaled from a craft positioning to a multi-channel retail and foodservice business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zemicoffee
• Facebookfacebook.com/zemicoffeecart
• Instagraminstagram.com/zemicoffeecart?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
• TikToktiktok.com/@zemicoffeecart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zemi Coffee Cart