Meet Espresso Geaux: a local coffee truck that’s here to serve

Espresso Geaux is like an ice cream truck but for adults. After all, coffee is the grown-up equivalent of treating yourself.

Espresso Geaux is a woman-owned, Capital Region coffee truck that serves caffeinated beverages to local subdivisions, businesses, schools, organizations and events. Imagine dropping your child off at school and getting rewarded with a hot cup of joe. That’s what happens at the local schools on Espresso Geaux’s route.

Brandi Plaisance opened her coffee truck in August 2019. At the time, she wasn’t a coffee drinker, but she was fascinated with the complex process of coffee making.

“I fell in love with making coffee while volunteering at church,” Plaisance says. “I was working offshore as a safety paramedic when God gave me the idea. So when I came back home I went to coffee school in Texas and bought a coffee truck.”

Plaisance sells iced and hot lattes, fresh-brewed coffee, frappuccinos and non-coffee drinks like tea, hot chocolate and smoothies. The most popular drink is the iced caramel macchiato, which is made with a vanilla milk base, caramel and espresso.

Espresso Geaux really is on-the-go. It travels mostly to schools in Livingston, East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes. Once teachers and parents get their morning coffee fix from the truck before classes, Espresso Geaux rolls to the next school or booked event. Sometimes Plaisance parks at up to three schools a day.

“Our business tripled during quarantine because we started going into subdivisions,” Plaisance says. “We went from having 2,200 followers on Facebook to 6,800.”

This November, Espresso Geaux hopes to plant its roots. The Walker native plans to open a drive-thru coffee shop in Watson in mid-November. Until then, locals can find Espresso Geaux at Watson Farmers Market on the first Saturday of every month, unless it is booked for an event. espressogeaux.com

This article was originally published in the November 2020 issue of 225 Magazine.