A sleek white truck stationed outside the Cox Science Building has become a lively hub for students at the University of Miami, thanks to the Alcobe sisters and their mobile café, Honey Veil.
Every Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the truck’s delicious offerings of signature matchas, lattes, and small-batch baked goods attract a continuous stream of college enthusiasts.
Sisters Ceci and Regina Alcobe, both Miami natives, have transformed their love for matcha and baking into a burgeoning business that has quickly become a staple on campus.
At ages 22 and 19, respectively, the sisters have successfully turned a passion project into a go-to destination for students, bringing thoughtfully crafted drinks and sourdough pastries that bring a moment of serenity amid the hustle of college life.
While it may not be surprising that their drinks are delicious, what might catch you off guard is that both sisters, along with their older brother, are University of Miami alumni.
This family connection inspired Ceci to introduce Honey Veil to campus, believing that the university environment was the perfect setting to unveil their business.
“Ceci did her research, reached out to the right people, and we got confirmation that we could be on campus two days a week,” Regina shared.
To dedicate more time to Honey Veil, Ceci opted to take the spring semester off. However, she wanted to remain connected to campus, and this entrepreneurial venture provided the ideal opportunity.
The story of Honey Veil is deeply rooted in familial resilience and inspiration. The sisters attribute much of their motivation to their mother and their multicultural heritage, which encompasses Mexican, German, and Spanish influences.
The journey began when their mother, Cecilia, shared a photo of her sourdough bread in a group chat, sparking an outpouring of orders.
This response eventually led the sisters to sell baked goods at local farmers markets.
Initially operating on a two-day schedule, Honey Veil has expanded to three days a week, with plans to operate Monday through Friday starting in the fall of 2025.
The unique name “Honey Veil” emerged from a creative brainstorming session that involved using ChatGPT.
Regina, whose passion for descriptive writing prompted her to seek the perfect name, crafted a long paragraph detailing their vision of something delicate, natural, sweet, and intentional.
After generating a list of suggestions from the AI that included words like “honey,” “nectar,” and “lace,” the name was initially considered as Honeylace, but that Instagram handle was unavailable.
Thus, Honey Veil was born— a name that Regina felt encapsulated their brand’s ethos while also nodding to her personal love for weddings.
Honey Veil distinguishes itself through the authenticity and intention that permeates every aspect of the business.
Although their youth might be perceived as a drawback, the sisters argue that their age is one of their greatest assets.
Being young enhances their ability to create connections with their audience, allowing for a deep resonance with the brand that extends beyond just food.
“I think sometimes when you take things too seriously, it’s hard to achieve what you set out to do because everything becomes about the destination — not the process,” Regina expressed.
She emphasized that their focus on enjoying the journey and making it as genuine as possible led to unexpected success.
The sisters are perfectionists when it comes to their matcha. Their drinks are crafted to be refined sugar-free, utilizing clean and simple ingredients.
Ceci led many experiments to refine the matcha-to-milk and water-to-matcha ratios, achieving the perfect balance between taste and froth.
During this process, Regina inadvertently created their signature whipped honey while attempting to develop a healthy meringue.
While she guards their recipes closely, Regina emphasizes her transparency regarding the ingredients they use.
As someone with a sweet tooth and a performance-driven mindset, Regina has modified her recipes to eliminate refined sugars, opting instead for alternatives like coconut sugar and maple syrup.
“I noticed that when I had too much processed food, I would break out, bloat and just not feel my best,” she revealed.
The sisters’ goal has never been about creating ‘low-calorie’ foods; instead, they focus on real, wholesome ingredients that nourish the body without sacrificing flavor.
Honey Veil also accommodates dietary preferences by offering gluten-free and dairy-free options.
Exploring new flavor combinations is one of Regina’s favorite responsibilities, though her time for experimentation has decreased.
“I have an endless document of flavors that have popped into my head and I’ve been wanting to test and try out,” she mentioned.
Inspiration strikes her from various sources—while working on the truck, casual prompts from customers, or discovering unique dessert recipes on social media.
Regina admires Hallie Meyer, the founder of Caffè Panna in New York, whose innovative ice cream flavor combinations inspire her creativity.
“Her flavor concepts always blow my mind — I look up to her so much,” she acknowledged.
Yet the sisters’ commitment to Honey Veil goes beyond just crafting flavors; it involves experiencing the daily challenges of running a business.
Regina recalls one particularly notable day where she injured her foot with a syrup bottle.
Despite the pain, she chose to bandage herself up, prop her foot on a stool, and continue working to serve customers.
“It was honestly pretty painful working like that for hours, but the constant flow of matcha and conversation with students kept the pain at bay,” Regina recalled.
Even after needing crutches for two days, she was back in the truck shortly thereafter.
“Thank you for coming back,” a customer told her, and those simple words meant a great deal.
Operating a food truck involves navigating various obstacles—permits, logistics, adverse weather, and power outages—but the sisters have developed a robust system that allows them to adapt.
Their background as former competitive tennis players played a significant role in honing the discipline and perseverance necessary for running a successful business.
“I think tennis taught me to persevere, adapt, and be consistent no matter the circumstances,” Regina explained.
The rigorous training of five to six hours a day, alongside online schooling to accommodate travel for tournaments, honed their skills to handle the unpredictable nature of both sports and entrepreneurship.
Regina even considered pursuing a collegiate tennis career before Honey Veil gained traction, ultimately selecting the café as her path.
Looking ahead, she plans to begin her studies at the University of Miami in fall 2025.
Throughout their journey, UM students have served as some of Honey Veil’s most ardent supporters, motivating the sisters to push through challenging days.
“There have been a lot of hard days that made us doubt, but the students were always there—showing up, talking with us, giving us their energy,” Regina said.
Although the sisters never aimed to specifically “market” to their peers, a natural connection quickly developed.
“I credit them more than I credit us—for taking a chance on us and supporting us every step of the way,” Regina added.
That bond with the student community was instrumental in Regina’s decision to enroll at UM this fall.
“I think I resonate with our customers because I am our customer—young, curious, a little bit confused about the world, but with a hunger to learn and be so much more,” she said.
Honey Veil has transcended its status as a mere café; it symbolizes sisterhood, vision, and passion, all topped off with a touch of whipped honey.
As the truck’s following continues to blossom and its menu evolves, Honey Veil exemplifies that thoughtful ideas and authentic connections, combined with a bit of entrepreneurial boldness, can carve out a successful niche, regardless of formal training or extensive experience.
Through each pour, swirl, and genuine smile, the Alcobe sisters are crafting a vibrant community, one matcha at a time.
image source from：themiamihurricane
