Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck Joins Annapolis Scene, Bringing Great Drinks And Community Connections

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Led by two veterans, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck rolled into the Annapolis scene this spring. Owners Nick Manley and Lara Craig are hoping to make their coffee truck a staple of the community.

After working for decades in government service, Manley retired in search of a career that would give him more control over his future while allowing him to spend more time with his kids. He explored several opportunities before deciding on Travelin’ Tom’s, a coffee truck franchise connected to Kona Ice.

On the decision to open a coffee truck, Manley said he was inspired by his own love of coffee and the culture surrounding it. Working on the truck allows him to spend his days meeting neighbors, serving customers and connecting with people through one of life’s simple pleasures.

“It’s great to get out and chat with people in our town,” Manley said. “There’s nothing better than being able to make someone a good cup of coffee.”

That experience is even more meaningful because he gets to share it with his family. Manley, who spent years working in intelligence, joked that this is the first time his kids actually know what he does for a living. Being able to work alongside them serves as a daily reminder of why he and Craig started the business with their soon-to-be blended family.

Craig is a trained pastry chef, and the pair considered offering baked goods on the truck. In the end, they decided they loved the simplicity of focusing on great coffee and beverages while bringing that experience directly to customers.

Travelin’ Tom’s serves coffee along with hot, iced and frozen specialty beverages, TILT Nitro Energy drinks, Refreshers, caffeine-free options and kid-friendly hot drinks.

Since launching in April, Travelin’ Tom’s has become the official coffee vendor of the U.S. Naval Academy Athletic Association and can be found at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on game days, as well as other sporting events.

The truck also appears at major Annapolis events and the Lothian Farmers Market on the first and third Sundays of each month. In addition to public events, the business focuses on private bookings, serving everything from corporate retreats and teacher appreciation events to weddings and fundraisers.

“It’s simple, it’s straightforward,” Manley said. “We come to you, we serve great drinks, and then we leave. We’re really looking forward to being able to do more of that, whether it’s through fundraisers or corporate events or teacher appreciation.”

Manley said he’s excited to give residents another option for coffee while continuing to meet more people in the town he calls home. Whether it’s booking a private event, stopping by the truck at a Navy game or seeing them at a local festival, he, Craig and sometimes their kids are ready to serve.

“We’re Annapolis people,” he said. “We live here, we work here, our kids go to school here. We want to meet you and serve coffee and make you happy.”

Information on booking Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Annapolis is below.

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