Sweet Shoppe offers goodies, espresso, more

There may not be a Starbucks in Cass County, but if the taste of coffee is what the customer wants, Mo’Jo Sweet Shoppe in Hughes Springs say they are ready to compete.

Becky Morrison has opened an espresso coffee shop in the downtown area.

“Not super sweet, but more coffee flavor is what we’ve got,” said Becky Morrison and her grandmother Renee who is a big helper in the enterprise.

Mo’Jo is really a family affair. Husband Nele and son Nele Jr. work there, too. The business opens 12 hours a day, starting 6 a.m. each weekday morning. Becky sleeps in Saturdays by opening at 8 a.m.

“I don’t even have any customers at 6 a.m., but I’m here anyway,” Becky said. “My husband is the first one to come by for coffee and that’s usually around 6:50 a.m.”

Espresso coffee is of Italian origin and is made by forcing nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans. Espresso is generally thicker than coffee brewed by other methods and has a higher concentration of flavors. Espresso is the base for caffe latte, cappuccino and others.

Becky said she trained two days in Dallas to become a certified coffee barista before opening the espresso shop. If you drive up and order one of the 16-ounce cups, you’ll have your choice of at least nine coffees in nine flavors in about five minutes. Everything is handmade.

“We don’t punch any buttons,” Becky said. “We get the American Expresso Bean and turn it into shots of espresso that will be put into your cup with flavor. One or two shots is normal, but you can order four or more.”

To be ready for the summer, the Morrisons will have snow cones in about a month. They already have a home licensed baker as a supplier for cookies and other baked goods. And since their building has a bit of inside space, Mo’Jo may be into having birthday parties, too.

The reception by the community has been good, the Morrisons affirm.

“We’re basing everything on the taste of our coffee,” Becky said.

“And we are cheaper than that offer coffee outlet you find in cities,” grandmom Renee said.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Becky Morrison is happy to have opened an espresso coffee shop in Hughes Springs, Texas, that will supply some competition to Starbucks and others that might want to come to Cass County. “We’re ready. We think we can beat them,” she said.