Our Story
A grandmother, traditions of Egypt and the coffee culture of Italy
Every week as a young boy, Hesham Bakr would walk with his grandmother, whom he affectionately called Biba, to her favorite neighborhood coffee roaster in Heliopolis, Egypt. Each morning began with the rich aroma of the Turkish coffee she prepared with care and precision. Without realizing it, these simple rituals were laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for coffee.
At the age of fifteen, Hesham moved to the picturesque seaside town of Duino, Italy. There, he took his first sip of authentic Italian espresso, and everything changed. A whole new world of coffee culture, craftsmanship, and discovery opened before him.
Years later, while attending the University of San Francisco during the rise of America's specialty coffee movement, the vision for what would eventually become Duino Coffeehouse began to take shape. That vision was further refined while earning his MBA at Texas A&M University, where the business plan was developed into a reality.
Shortly after graduation, Duino Coffeehouse was born, a place inspired by the traditions of Egypt, the coffee culture of Italy, and the spirit of community that defines great cafés around the world.
Today, every cup we serve carries a piece of that journey, from the warmth of Biba's kitchen in Egypt to the cafés of Italy and the welcoming community we've built here in Texas, where strangers become friends.
Why we are called Duino
Hesham Bakr moved to Duino, Italy to attend the United World College of the Adriatic, an extraordinary international school where students from more than 100 countries came together to live, learn, and grow alongside one another. They arrived as strangers, bringing different cultures, languages, beliefs, and life experiences. They left as lifelong friends with a profound sense of community and a shared belief that the world is better when people take the time to understand one another.
For us, Duino is much more than a place on a map. It represents curiosity, connection, hospitality, and the belief that sharing a cup of coffee can bring people together across cultures, generations, and backgrounds.
That is why our purpose has always been simple:
To create a place where strangers become friends.
What’s with the Turkish Chandelier?
The exquisite Turkish chandelier hanging in our space is more than just decor. It pays homage to Hesham’s grandmother Biba, whose Turkish roots and love of Turkish coffee set this journey in motion. Every morning her ritual of preparing coffee filled the house with warmth, aroma, and care. That chandelier is a quiet tribute to her and to the beginnings of this whole story.
Opening day in McKinney
In mid 2018, Hesham and his wife Asil left their corporate careers and decided to pursue their dream of opening Duino Coffeehouse. After months of planning and construction, Duino soft opened a few days before Christmas in 2018. After stress testing new equipment, training new team members and fine tuning processes, Duino had grand opening party on February 22, 2018.
Asil and Hesham have been very hands-on from day one, testing recipes, refining the menu, and learning something new every week. To them, this is so much more than a business.
The Bakr Family
Asil is every bit as central to the story of Duino, especially now that she has assumed all day-to-day operations. Hesham and Asil’s three kids, Jenna, Taline, and Zain, tend to introduce themselves as "the future owners of Duino." This has always been a family effort, and that warmth is baked into everything they do.