Adam Daoud, a full-time student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, has surprised many by opening his own coffee shop in the heart of downtown San Antonio at the end of 2024. Despite still being in school, Daoud has quickly built a steady following for his new venture, Vela Coffee.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to open a coffee shop this early in my life,” said Daoud, who is currently studying cybersecurity. While his studies are a priority, owning a coffee shop has always been a dream of his. Thanks to his uncle’s investment, Daoud was able to make that dream a reality.
“I pitched the idea of opening a specialty coffee shop, and with my savings and his support, we were able to make it happen,” Daoud explained. The entire process, from concept to opening, took nearly two years. Initially, Daoud didn’t consider downtown as a location but ultimately decided it was the perfect spot to attract more locals and contribute to the revitalization of the city’s core.
“The idea behind Vela Coffee was to bring more specialty coffee options to downtown San Antonio,” Daoud said.
The name “Vela Coffee” was an easy choice for the family. It is named after Daoud’s grandmother, whose last name means “Candle” in Arabic. To honor the rich Hispanic culture in San Antonio, they translated her name into Spanish, and Vela Coffee was born.
Located just a three-minute walk from the Alamo on East Travis Street, Vela Coffee has recently seen an influx of tourists visiting the café, adding to its growing popularity.
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