By Scout Nicholson / Jambar Contributor
In a city full of coffee shops, one in particular is on the move. Coffee Run, a mobile coffee trailer, has served the Mahoning Valley since 2024.
Darla Schafer is the creative mind and owner of Coffee Run. Schafer said having a mobile trailer was a great way to enter the coffee industry.
“Because I’m a mom, this felt a little bit more approachable. It was a little lower of a barrier to entry. Just being able to take it to events and kind of operate it predominantly on the weekends,” Schafer said.
Schafer said serving coffee to the community has always been a passion of hers.
“So, I actually worked at [High Octane Coffee] in Boardman for several years, and I just found that I was really interested in the science behind coffee and just the different hands that it goes through to get it to a cup,” Schafer said.
Coffee Run is open on the weekends and parked at various locations. A calendar with its hours of operation is available on its Instagram @ytowncoffeerun. On Saturdays, the trailer is often parked at Sespe Burger in Columbiana or The Skin Suite and Ivory & Birch in Boardman.
On Sundays, Coffee Run can be found at Ok Go Play, a daycare located in Canfield, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Schafer said they have operated there since Coffee Run’s opening.
“We have three small children, and we’ve taken our kids here since they opened,” Schafer said. “My husband and I were always stopping for coffee before we would come here. So I was like, ‘Okay, how about we bring the coffee to the parents or the caregivers bringing their kids here?’”
Coffee Run has an extensive menu with specialities every month. This month is Coffee Run’s “Spring Sips,” featuring drinks such as the lemon bar cold brew and carrot cake latte.
“We have everything for the highest level of coffee connoisseur,” Schafer said. “We also have a lot of house-made syrups for people who are wanting that craft coffee experience but are kind of intimidated by like the more traditional coffees, so we have everything from iced lattes to hot lattes.”
From its opening in 2024, Coffee Run has become well-known in the community. Coffee Run regular Madison King said she’s been a patron since its opening. King said she loves to support small businesses, and she really enjoys its drinks.
Jessica Magni, one of Coffee Run’s three employees, said working there has been a great fit.
“I love the small coffee vibe. I love the customers [Schafer] has. So I knew like this is where I was supposed to be,” Magni said. “It’s just such a good community to be around, and everybody does support local around here.”
Schafer said she hopes that one day Coffee Run will evolve into a traditional brick and mortar business.
Those interested in Coffee Run can check out its website at www.ytowncoffeerun.com.
