Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
Cafecito’s Espresso Bar, owned by Derek Andrew Galvan, has been operating on the first floor of the Chase Bank Building in downtown McAllen for the past six months. The shop is located at 200 South 10th Street, Suite 102, inside what Galvan described as the tallest building in McAllen.
Galvan, a Mission native whose parents are from Rio Grande City and Roma, Texas, launched Cafecito’s in 2023 as a mobile coffee business. According to Galvan, the business began after he purchased a trailer from another local entrepreneur and started learning the coffee trade. The concept later evolved from a mobile operation into a permanent location in downtown McAllen.
According to Galvan, the opportunity to move into the Chase Bank Building came after he learned a retail space was available. The business first provided catering services to building tenants before securing its current location. Cafecito’s opened its doors to the public six months ago and now serves both building tenants and customers from across the Rio Grande Valley.
“We’re going to make you feel like you’re part of us,” Galvan said when describing the customer service philosophy of the business.
Coffee remains the center of the operation. Galvan said he roasts his own coffee beans and focuses on espresso-based beverages prepared with house-made syrups. The menu includes lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, flat whites, Americanos, chai tea lattes, cold brew coffee, matcha drinks, and hibiscus refreshers. Specialty offerings include Coco Cloud Matcha, Banana Biscoff, Toasted Maple Pecan, and other seasonal beverages.
Customers can choose from lactose-free milk, whole milk, half-and-half, almond milk, or oat milk. Additional options include cold foam and extra espresso shots. The shop also offers bakery items such as bagels, muffins, cookies, cheese Danishes, protein brownies, and protein cookies.
Food options have expanded to include Caprese sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, and chicken-bacon paninis. Galvan said the additions were made in response to customer demand, particularly from workers in the building.
Beyond coffee, Cafecito’s sells bottled water, soft drinks, energy drinks, and other beverages. The business also continues to provide catering services for weddings, quinceañeras, corporate functions, and community events using both a coffee cart and a trailer setup.
Galvan said the shop’s customer base includes regular visitors from inside and outside the building. He noted that the public response since opening has given him confidence in the location and the business’s future.
Cafecito’s Espresso Bar is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until the bank closes and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop is located inside the Chase Bank Building at 200 South 10th Street, Suite 102, in downtown McAllen.
