Oct 213 min read

Why The Cracked Mug Coffee House Feels Like Family: A Closer Look at This Community Gem

Donna Wells, co-owner of local Helotes gem, The Cracked Mug Coffee House, sat down with Eat Drink Local Texas to discuss the importance of the business being a family-owned and operated place that prioritizes serving quality coffee and homemade treats.

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Helotes, Texas - The Cracked Mug Coffee House is a family-owned gem where multiple family members play a role in daily operations. This personal touch creates a warm, community atmosphere, making regulars feel part of the family. When describing the shop, owner Donna Wells also considered The Cracked Mug a small family business with Christian values, showcased through the music playing throughout the shop and the occasional prayer it hosts. First and foremost, however, The Cracked Mug focuses on serving high-quality coffee and baked goods to people from all walks of life.

The Cracked Mug was bought by Donna and her husband, Duane, in 2016 from the previous owner after their daughter, who Donna was helping run a nearby honey shop, during. There was initial hesitation when her daughter asked if she and Duane were interested in buying the coffee shop. Perhaps it was due to Donna being retired and Duane already having a job, but this led to a serious talk about it and even prayerful consideration. After doing so, the Wells called a day later, saying they wanted to buy the Cracked Mug.

The rest is history!

The Cracked Mug coffee house, showcasing an intriguing atmosphere with distinctive furnishings and decor

As stated, The Cracked Mug stands out as family-owned, with multiple family members involved in its operations. This brings a personal touch to the business that ties into a community feel where regulars often feel like family.

"We take an interest in our customers," Donna elaborated, on this fact. "We have a couple of people who've written books while they've been here. We have another lady who studies almost every day, and she's a nurse now. So we've taken on people as our family."

And those new family members are welcome to try out any of the in-house-made menu items! Nearly everything from The Cracked Mug is crafted from scratch, which includes the breakfast bowls, the muffins (with unbelievable, crowd-pleasing flavors such as apple bacon, vegan spiced chai, and pumpkin cheesecake), and Donna's signature homemade salsa that completes any breakfast taco. Let's not forget about the coffee! The Cracked Mug sources its coffee from local specialty roasters, Minutiae Coffee, ensuring every cup is brewed from high-quality, specialty-grade beans. The house espresso blends were crafted exclusively for the Cracked Mug's menu and are available in-store.

"People like coming somewhere and knowing things are made from scratch," Donna pointed out when mentioning these delicious menu items. "If you order something, we make it then. It's not pre-made at all."

The Cracked Mug Coffee House continues to grow in business, which can be considered a double-edged sword since their small kitchen can constrain their growth. Donna, however, expressed that it doesn't stop her and her family from focusing on continuous improvement.

"We just continue to try to improve and find ways to serve our food [promptly]," she stated. "We're hoping that can continue to grow in that way."

Maintaining the current level of service efficiency and quality is a team effort, and the Wells couldn't ask for a better team than theirs due to the hard work and loyalty they possess. It all ties into the family work environment, where employees are treated with respect and not subjected to harsh treatment, contrasting with traditional work environments, and helps in creating a high employee retention rate.

"We tell [employees] that this is not a traditional job," Donna said. "You're not going to be treated the way you might be treated in a larger [business] because we treat everyone with respect, and we never subject anyone to harsh treatment or demeaning behavior."

Whether it's the people that work there or patrons, old and new, everyone is welcomed to a welcoming and cozy environment. So go down to Helotes, Texas, and sit for a spell at the Cracked Mug Coffee House. You can rest assured they'll have a fresh pot ready for you!