Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Dixson
Hi Johnny, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Johnny Beans: Pioneering Austin’s Mobile Coffee Scene Since 1994
For over 30 years, Johnny Beans has been crafting premium, unforgettable coffee experiences tailored to every event. Founded by John “Johnny” Dixson, an entrepreneur with a deep passion for coffee, the company has grown into a trusted name in specialty coffee catering.
Johnny’s journey began after a corporate career when a trip to California introduced him to the emerging coffee movement. Inspired, he set out to open a coffee bar but first immersed himself in the craft, training as a sales rep for an Italian espresso equipment manufacturer. Selling espresso machines to local restaurants proved challenging—many saw coffee as a passing fad. So, Johnny pivoted, designing his own mobile coffee cart with the idea of renting it out—though he insisted on being the one to operate it. And just like that, Johnny Beans was born.
Partnering with a local roaster, Johnny created an award-winning espresso blend. Wanting to see what other baristas were doing around the country, Johnny entered a regional barista competition in Dallas and took first place. The win landed him a spot at Fresh Cup Magazines’ National Barista competition where Johnny competed and claimed the top prize as the 1997 U.S. Barista World Series Champion.
For decades, Johnny has remained committed to his craft, staying true to the Italian traditions of a skilled barista. Today, he and his wife, Lauren, run Johnny Beans alongside a dedicated team of baristas, bringing not just exceptional coffee but a level of hospitality and attention to detail that transforms every event into an experience.
Johnny Beans, believes in building relationships one cup at a time—ensuring every interaction is meaningful, every event is seamless, and every cup of coffee is crafted to perfection.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely, there have been challenges—especially with the ever-evolving world of coffee and shifting industry trends. We always laugh about one of Johnny’s first events in August 1994—standing outside in 100-degree heat at a winery grape stomp, trying to sell coffee!
Johnny was a pioneer in Austin’s coffee kiosk scene, launching his first location in the lobby of 100 Congress before expanding to Seton NW, St. David’s, Brackenridge, and Children’s Hospitals. He later opened a coffee bar in Wells Branch before ultimately selling those locations to focus exclusively on catering and events—a decision that proved to be the best move for Johnny Beans.
One of our biggest challenges has always been finding, training, and retaining skilled personnel. Because of that, Johnny has remained the most visible and valuable asset to the company. He has ridden every wave of the coffee industry, adapting as needed but never losing sight of what matters most—hospitality and building relationships, one cup at a time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Johnny Beans?
Johnny Beans has redefined coffee catering by delivering premium, unforgettable experiences tailored to each event. With our signature mobile coffee carts, a deep focus on hospitality, highly trained baristas, and personalized service, we’ve been pioneering Austin’s mobile coffee scene since 1994. From corporate events and hotel conferences to teacher appreciation days, tenant events, and special occasions, we serve artisan coffee and espresso drinks that leave a lasting impression. We help you elevate your event with our mobile coffee cart service, designed to impress every guest and client. Johnny Beans: Building relationships, one cup at a time.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
What you see is what you get. Authenticity is at the heart of Johnny Beans, and it’s one of the biggest reasons we’ve built such strong, long-standing relationships with our clients.
We’ve always called Johnny Beans Austin’s Best-Kept Secret because our growth has been entirely organic—never forced. Every year, Johnny and Lauren would sit down and ask themselves, Do we want to grow the business? And every year, the answer was No. Yet, despite our resistance, Johnny Beans kept growing on its own.
That’s when we took a step back to discover our true talents and the deeper meaning behind our mission. We realized we weren’t just a coffee company—we were a hospitality company using our award-winning coffee as a tool to build relationships. And we do it one cup at a time. That’s how our tagline was born: Building relationships one cup at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://johnnybeans.com
- Instagram: @johnnybeansatx
- Facebook: @johnnybeansatx
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/6587574/admin/dashboard/
- Twitter: @johnnybeansatx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnnyBeansATX
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/johnny-beans-austin-7
