Darla (22) and Christian (15) Torres started Tawney Coffee in 2024 with the mission to put into practice the financial literacy lessons their dad taught us. They began with a table on the sidewalk in Ravenswood, then knocking on doors in their Brighton Park neighborhood to share free samples of their coffee.  

From there, they then went to farmers markets across Chicago, but soon realized their own community lacked a welcoming “third place” where neighbors could gather and enjoy specialty coffee without leaving the Southwest Side.  

With the support of their father, they built a mobile coffee bar in the trunk of his car, delivering and brewing coffee for local shops and schools. When demand grew, they transformed part of our home into a mini coffee shop that quickly filled with neighbors.  

Now, with their community’s encouragement, they are opening their first brick-and-mortar café at 43rd and Albany in Brighton Park. Though it requires major renovations, their vision is clear: to create a safe and vibrant space where people can gather, learn, and feel at home. Through Tawney Coffee, they want to share financial literacy with their commmunity and inspire others to open businesses that make our neighborhood more fruitful and abundant.