Meet Nassos Tsafalopoulos | Owner, Yiayia’s Coffeehouse

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

Hi Nassos, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in Greece. From a very young age, I spent my summers working in the tourism industry, making and serving coffee. From small coffee houses to luxurious island resorts, I quickly learned the value of impeccable service and I also discovered the art of coffee. My passion for coffee led me to Italy, where I was trained by seasoned baristas and mastered the art. After I graduated from University, I gave up my passion and opted for “job security” with a bank in Greece. Years later, I would return to my passion. My career as a banker in Greece ended abruptly due of the financial crisis. My wife (born and raised in Dallas) and I moved to the U.S. five years ago. Instead of going back to the financial sector, this time around I followed my true calling. I opened Yiayia’s Coffeehouse and I am now reliving my summer days here in Frisco with the same goal – respect to the customer, excellent service, and a perfect cup of coffee!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It takes more than beans to serve a great cup of coffee. We are a specialty coffeehouse aiming to bring people a focused and an exceptional coffee experience in a friendly/family atmosphere. Inspired by the Greek and Italian coffee culture, we believe that coffee drinking is a ritual among friends. The motivation behind our coffee is simple: uncompromising quality. Yiayia’s is a unique place that combines the best European coffee-shop traditions. We are well-known for our specialty coffees and our fresh coffee beans. To our knowledge, we are the only venue that serves authentic Greek freddo cappuccino and freddo espresso. We also distribute locally roasted and Italian coffee beans (our best selling products are Italian House and Texas Maple Pecan). Getting here was not easy, the path has been bumpy. My family relocated to the U.S. from Greece and we have mourned the loss of close family members. It has been truly difficult, but I am comforted by my dear wife, my two adorable children, and my customers and friends. One lesson that I have learned is that life is too short and you need to follow your passion. Coffee is my passion. My greatest joy has been seeing my customers getting addicted to good quality coffee. I am proud to contribute to a growing coffee culture in the DFW area

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.
My best friends are from Europe, so I would definitely take them to watch an FC Dallas soccer match in Frisco! We would then visit Six Flags. On a night out we would hang out at Deep Ellum and Greenville Avenue. The itinerary would also include Reunion Tower, Bishop Arts District, Fort Worth Stockyards, and the local museums.

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?
I wouldn’t be here without the support of my family. I m still here every day thanks to the love and support of my customers.

Website: www.yiayias.coffee

Instagram: yiayiascoffee

Facebook: yiayiascoffee