Written by Jordan Michelman.
Depending on how old you are reading this, you may recall a time when going somewhere festive—a wedding, say, or a Sabrina Carpenter concert—was all but surely going to mean subjecting oneself to a good coffee desert. The qualifier (“good”) is paramount here; there’s always just-okay coffee to drink somewhere at the stadium or the craft services table, but we’re talking about the good stuff, like cafe-quality espresso service from serious baristas.
Thankfully, the world has changed, and nowadays drinking great coffee at a major event is increasingly possible thanks to the work of mobile coffee companies like Luna Espresso. Owner Danielle Garcia’s fast-growing Austin, Texas-based espresso cart company has made a serious name for itself over the last five years, scoring a major partnership with Moody Center (Austin’s largest concert venue), and working with global brands like Dell, Amazon, and CBS. Things get very fun at these events—read on to check out their signature drink for Chappell Roan—but at the core of Luna’s work is a dedication to coffee quality, supported by a hardworking backline of gear by La Marzocco. I spoke with Danielle Garcia to learn more.
Hi Danielle, thank you so much for speaking with me. Something I always like to ask to start out — how do you like to describe what you do at Luna? How would you talk about your company to someone who was unfamiliar?
Luna Espresso brings the coffee shop to you — wherever you are. Whether it’s a wedding, a brand activation, backstage, or a studio shoot, we create moments that feel like your favorite café: great coffee, warm energy, and zero pretension. We believe that high-quality coffee shouldn’t be limited to certain places — it should be part of any great gathering.
We’re also intentional about how we do things. We prioritize working with local small businesses and seek out LGBTQ-, women-, and minority-owned partners whenever we can. Our matcha comes from Spirit Tea, our syrups are small-batch from Pink House Alchemy, and we use locally farmed milk from Mill-King here in Texas. My role is making sure all of that comes through — in the drinks we serve, the choices we make, and the experience we create. We’re here to keep people caffeinated, connected, and feeling good.
I think it’s really interesting that you went from running your cart in a single physical location to now a fully mobile cart business — tell me about that transition, and what are some of the advantages you find with mobile today?
Funny enough, we started Luna in 2020 with the intention of being a mobile, pop-up-based business. But as you can imagine, launching during a pandemic wasn’t exactly ideal for that model. Early on, we were lucky to connect with some amazing friends who invited us to set up our cart inside their retail shop — it wasn’t what we had planned, but it was a beautiful opportunity that helped us get our footing and immediately connect with the community.
Once the world started opening back up — and especially after we landed a partnership with the largest music venue in Austin — we felt like it was the right time to return to our original vision. Going mobile again meant more flexibility, more creativity, and being able to bring coffee directly to where people are gathering. It’s fast-paced and dynamic, but that’s what makes it exciting. No two days are the same, and we get to be part of so many different kinds of moments.
What’s your favorite sort of event to work with? Are there any particularly notable or memorable events Luna partnered with you think back on fondly?
Our partnership with the Moody Center in Austin has definitely been one of the most fun and memorable experiences. We get to be backstage for every concert, serving coffee and matcha to the crew and artists while they prep for the show — it’s such an energizing environment. Some standout moments have been catering for Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter (Moody even built a whole “Short and Sweet Stop” backstage just for her crew), and Olivia Rodrigo. It’s so rewarding to see how excited people get when they realize they’re getting drinks from a real barista — not just an airpot of mid-tier coffee.
One of my most unforgettable moments was serving our “Pink Pony Club” — a strawberry matcha with glitter — to Chappell Roan when she opened for Olivia Rodrigo. It was totally surreal. Later that night, we stayed for the show, and as a music lover and coffee business owner, it just hit me: this is exactly what I dreamed of doing.
And I have to say, the branding team at Moody — who we work with really closely — are some of the kindest and most creative people. Collaborating with them makes the whole experience even more special.
What is your gear setup like at Luna? Please tell me more about what you have going on behind the bar.
From the start, we knew we wanted to use the best, most reliable equipment — and naturally, that led us to La Marzocco. It’s the dream machine in so many ways: beautiful, consistent, and built to last. We started with Linea Minis, which were perfect for getting Luna off the ground. Now, we use GS3 AVs paired with Mahlkönig E65S grinders.
Since we’re often serving in high-energy, high-volume settings, we’re making a lot of drinks in a short window — usually within a 2–3 hour timeframe. Consistency and speed are everything, especially during multi-event days. When you’re mobile, you don’t get the luxury of seeing the same customer tomorrow. This setup gives us the confidence to show up, dial in quickly, and deliver every time.
Plus, having Hana Kaneshige, our local La Marzocco rep, as a resource has been invaluable. She’s such a great connection and reminder that, at the end of the day, people really make the biggest difference.
One thing that folks who work in this style of coffee often discuss is the idea that mobile carts help foster a direct connection with guests. Talk to me about that a little bit — do you agree? Has this been your experience?
Absolutely — that’s been one of the most rewarding parts of mobile work for us. I think I’ve touched on it a few times already, but there’s something really special about creating custom coffee moments in places where people don’t typically expect them. Whether it’s a wedding, backstage at a concert, or a pop-up inside a retail space, we’re often serving people during some of the biggest — or most memorable — moments of their lives.
There’s no cashier counter, no pressure to move people along — just real, one-on-one interaction. Guests are curious, excited, and often surprised to see a full-service coffee setup in a space like that. And because we’re preparing drinks right in front of them, it naturally sparks conversation. We get to share where their matcha or coffee comes from, why we use a certain syrup, or what makes our milk so special — and that kind of connection really stays with people.
It’s that blend of intimacy and celebration that’s hard to find in a traditional café setting. You’re not just making a drink — you’re becoming part of the moment. And for us, that’s something we deeply value.
Tell me about something cool in Austin that you love — maybe it’s a local favorite, or something underrated — put something on my list for the next time I visit.
Since it’s summer, one of my favorite ways to spend the day — and something my wife (who’s also our co-founder) and I love to do — is hitting Deep Eddy Pool and then grabbing a bite at Pool Burger right next door. They’ve got incredible wagyu smashburgers and fun craft tiki drinks — it has that perfect laid-back Austin feel. We usually finish our cocktails in the little dive bar up front, where you can play a game of billiards. It’s the ideal combo of sun, swim, and a casual hang — definitely a must if you’re in town during the warmer months… which, let’s be honest, is basically year-round in Texas.
Visit Luna Espresso at their website and on Instagram.
