Ryan Bell spent his college years working in corporate coffee shops, connecting with regular customers while simultaneously learning their orders and stories. Bell later became a teacher, but in the back of his mind, he always thought about returning to the coffee industry with the goal of improving the work environment.

Bell met his wife, Michelle, on a blind date at a coffee shop in 2018, which further connected them to the coffee industry.

The setup

In 2020, the pandemic and uncertainty for the future led Ryan and Michelle Bell to pursue their dream of opening a coffee truck.

“I wanted to retire from corporate America, and I wanted to do something more fulfilling with my life,” Michelle Bell said.


Three years later, they opened their brick-and-mortar in Cedar Park, serving organic coffee with the message to “instill good [and] inspire community.”

What they offer

The Instill Coffee Co. menu features a selection of organic coffee, matcha, sweet and savory toasts, and pastries.

“[With] our coffee itself, we try to go either fully-certified organic or grown with organic practices,” Ryan Bell said. “Some of the smaller farms can't afford the organic certification process because it’s six figures, it's a lot of money. We do know, though, that they grow with organic practices.”


The drink that inspired Michelle and Ryan Bell to open the shop is the Long Buzz Latte, which they previously made at home. The drink includes organic medium-chain triglycerides oil, espresso, ghee and steamed milk. A popular food item is the Not So Simple Avocado Toast made with avocado, lemon, pepper, radish, cilantro, sesame seeds, creme fraiche and organic serrano sauce.

“At home with my kids, I'm very cautious on what they eat and what they drink,” Michelle Bell said. “I wanted to open a coffee shop that reflects that.”

Staying local

Ryan and Michelle Bell source as many products for the business from Texas as possible, including the beer, wine and coffee selection.


“We want to employ as many Texans as possible,” Ryan Bell said. “Everything we possibly can, we get made in Texas or is... warehoused in Texas somehow.”

In addition to supporting Texans at large, they also collaborate with local organizations in Cedar Park and Central Texas. In November, they host a food drive for Reveal Resource Center at the shop, and each Sunday they provide coffee donations to local churches.

What’s next

On Sept. 17, Instill Coffee Co. expanded to a new location in Round Rock. In 2026, the owners plan to train their assistant managers so they can step back from day-to-day operations to be more hands-on and engaged in the community.


“Even if it's not involved with our coffee... community is what life is about. ... What brings happiness [and] joy is being with people and giving back to your community, being a village together,” Michelle Bell said.