Meet Alex Maloof | Purple Coffee Truck Caffeine Enabler & Smile Dispenser

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Maloof and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
After retiring from a job of 17 years, I had to decide…”What next?” Spent awhile trying to figure that out. I was “institutionalized” from my old workplace and had to think waaaaaaaay out of the box.
“What do I want to do when I grow up?”

I’ve always always enjoyed making coffee for friends and family, and after some deep soul-searching…that was it! THAT’S what I want to do! But not at a place for someone else, I’ve had enough of bosses, and not in a brick and mortar location.

I’ve always been a cyclist, so I started to design an “espresso based cargo bike”. However the mechanical, spacial, weight, and equipment restraints seemed herculean, so I translated all that thought to…a coffee truck!

Then there was the research, and MORE research period of where, when and how to acquire one.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an entrepreneur! I started my own coffee truck, with zero knowledge of how to do so, no idea, at all about any aspect to any degree about how to start one, how to get one, how to start being an independent business person, or any of the 1000 little things required in the beginning stages.

Like how the heck to even finance it?

That was one of the biggest hurdles in the first place. So? I drained my 401 K and pumped all $100,000 (minus early retirement penalty tax!) into the business, the truck, the everything involved.
Every single thing is 4 times more expensive then forecasted or planned for, and takes at least twice as long.

Exhausting, but it’s mine. And I am in love with my truck. And the communal social aspect of the daily slinging Mochas!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Boulder has changed sooooooooo much and gotten sooo much busier, bigger, more full of…everything since I moved here in 1996.
I never eat out, don’t go to clubs or shows, and I have zero idea what restaurants open or close.

I would suggest to anyone to go to Rocky Mountain National Park, and to Chautaqua and spend time in nature.
And to come to The Purple Coffee Truck to chat me up and have the best Mocha ever.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The number one person in my life, backing me spiritually & emotionally in every way possible, and certainly instrumental in the beginning intimidating (still is!) stages would be…my fiancee.

Website: https://cafealejandro.com

Instagram: @cafealejandrocoffeetruck

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