Meet Samah Ahmad | The Matcha Bean Owner

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

Hi Samah, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting The Matcha Bean really came from my deep love for matcha. I first tried it when I was 10 years old, and it honestly became a huge part of my personality. I was that ‘matcha person’ for years! As I got older, I thought, why not turn something I genuinely love into my career? I also noticed that while there were a lot of coffee carts around Dallas, there wasn’t a mobile cart dedicated to matcha. Matcha is becoming more and more popular, and I wanted to bring something new, fresh, and different to the Dallas community and be one of the first to really do it. That’s how The Matcha Bean was born.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Matcha Bean is a matcha-focused business, and that’s what really sets us apart. We are committed to serving ceremonial-grade matcha, carefully whisked to perfection — something that took years of practice and learning to get just right. Getting started wasn’t easy. Even though I have an MBA and experience managing businesses, running your own business is a completely different experience. One of the biggest challenges I faced was dealing with impostor syndrome. Even when the business was doing well, there was always that nagging voice asking, ‘But is it really good?’ I’ve learned to overcome that by focusing on the results: seeing the positive feedback, repeat customers, and the genuine love people have for our drinks.

Managing The Matcha Bean while also working a full-time job has been tough, but time management, lots of planners, and staying passionate have kept me going. One of the things I’m most excited about is all the new flavors and drinks we’re planning. Seeing people enjoy them truly makes me the happiest.

What I want the world to know is that The Matcha Bean is built on real passion, family support, and a love for quality. It’s more than just a cart, it’s a little piece of joy we hope to share with everyone.

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.
If my best friend was visiting, I would definitely plan a week full of my favorite things! First, we’d kick off the trip with brunch at Fairview Farmers — they have the best banana French toast ever. Then, we’d go shopping at the Allen Outlets and stop by my favorite matcha spot, Café Hwasan, for their amazing cloud matcha. One day, we’d get creative at TuTu Together and make a custom rug or accessory — it’s so cute and fun! At night, we’d hang out at Arwa in Richardson for some good vibes, and grab dinner at Cris and John’s. Their vegetarian birria broth with grilled chicken is literally my favorite pho ever.

Since I love checking out new coffee shops, I’d also take them to a few of my go-tos: Dera for their Dstachio latte, Hola Café for a dulce latte, and LDU for a classic iced vanilla latte. For restaurants, we’d definitely hit La Pasha for the vibes, Tarboush for the best chicken shish tawook, Piada for some Italian street food, and Too Thai Street Eats for an amazing pad kee mow.

For activities, we’d go pottery painting, walk around Downtown Dallas, visit the Dallas Museum of Art, and explore Bishop Arts. It would be the perfect mix of relaxing, eating good food, and making memories!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely have to dedicate my shoutout to my family. They’ve been with me through every part of this journey, both front and center and behind the scenes. My dad helps with all the backend work, like managing inventory and making sure we’re stocked on supplies. My mom works with me to perfect the recipes and ensures everything we serve is top quality. And my brothers, Omar and Ali, are the hands-on help I can always count on. They assist with assembling, setting up, and working the cart alongside me. It’s truly become a big, happy matcha family and business, and I couldn’t have done it without them.

Instagram: https://the.matcha.bean

Other: tiktok: the.matcha.bean