Treat Yourself to Treat Coffee in Startzville

Theresa Russo can’t thank her Canyon Lake customers enough for their business.

Since she moved her Treat Coffee trailer to realtor Paul Sullivan’s parking lot in Startzville a month ago, business has been booming.

Regulars include Startzville carpool moms, residents running errands, people heading to the gym and the many self-employed.

“I just want people to know how grateful I am for being so welcoming and kind and supportive of me in the community,” she said. “I’m just looking forward to getting to know my customers better.”

Russo’s most popular drink is the Flapjack, made of white chocolate milk that she makes herself, salted caramel, vanilla and two shots of espresso.

She’s a former barista who concocted many of the recipes herself. Her favorite is the White Angel, whose ingredients include white chocolate milk, coconut and vanilla.

“I’m partial to drinks with white chocolate milk because I enjoy white mochas,” she said.

Her smoothies are prepared with fresh-fruit purees. She said frappes are a good alternative for customers who don’t like a strong espresso taste but still want caffeine.

All of Treat’s coffee drinks are made using San Marcos-based Red Bud’s fresh-roasted coffee beans. Russo hesitates to mention all of her ingredients publicly since they’re key to her success.

“We did do taste-testing and we did experiment with a few different ones,” she said. “I’m still experimenting with different flavors.”

Treat Coffee offers all types of coffee drinks, muffins, protein bars and Kind bars. However, tea is not on the menu board — so far.

Everything is made to order, and she has no problem adjusting the flavor palate up or down, depending on customers’ preferences. She added that her Italian sodas are unique.

“Treat coffees are a little on the sweet side because it’s meant to be a treat,” Russo said.

Some of her beverages are popular with Startzville Elementary students. Treat’s Coffee now provides free drinks to Mountain Valley Middle School students-of-the-month.

To order ahead, text 916-225-2976.

As Canyon Lake prepares for its busy tourist season, she said she plans to fly two of her nieces in from Utah to manage the spike in business.

Russo moved to San Antonio from Arizona two years ago after husband Lindsay Taylor, who runs Mattress Firm’s distribution center, transferred there.

They lived in Schertz briefly before succumbing to the siren song of fishing. Taylor is an avid angler who liked spending his weekends in Canyon Lake.

“When we found out we could get a house by the lake we were so excited,” Russo said.

When she bought the trailer now known as Treat’s Coffee it was just a shell. It took her a year to install equipment and paint and decorate it. Gathering permits and equipment took some time, she said.

Treat Coffee opened at Stahlmann’s on FM 2722 during the Fall Festival in October 2018. Russo said she’s extremely grateful to Stahlmann’s for helping her launch her coffee business.

Treat Coffee

8529 FM 2673 Canyon Lake, Texas 78133
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theresa.russo.52012
Instagram: @Treat.Coffee
Website: https://www.restaurantji.com/tx/canyon-lake/treat-coffee-/
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Summer hours may change.
916-225-2976