Twins keep focus on family at Trek Outpost on the farm in Canfield
Emily Mendenhall has been part of growing Trek Coffee House since the very beginning of the Mahoning County business with her twin brother, Levi Binsley-Smith.
“We made sure that we were always being open and honest with each other, planning the same goals to meet the same goals,” Mendenhall said. “If you’ve got a twin like Levi, definitely go into business with them.”
Trek Coffee House’s origins date back to 2015 when the siblings opened their first coffee stand at White House Fruit Farm in Canfield.
“It’s been a wonderful location, it’s been a wonderful partnership. Everybody’s really great,” she said.
In 2024, Trek Coffee House opened at 1588 Mahoning Ave. in Youngstown, with Mendenhall staying in Canfield to run Trek Outpost on the farm.
“My mom, dad and I now run this one, and it’s been a little different in the day-to-day, but it’s good because we are family-focused. We’re going to work things out together,” she said. “Having that working together attitude has really come through all the years. When we opened up Trek, we got to play with the cafe space, so the bar and setup are different and a soft, hiker-vibe.”
She enjoys creating unique flavor combinations for lattes, cold brews and milkshakes at Trek Outpost, like the rose gold which is
“One of my favorite summer flavors is mixing our strawberry with almond and literally in any beverage, it tastes great. It’s like the feeling when you first look at a cherry blossom bloom, but in a flavored combo,” Mendenhall said.
One of the most popular flavors ordered by customers is Trek’s salted caramel iced latte.
“All of our beans are roasted by us, and we make all our own syrups,” Mendenhall said. ”Within the coffee industry, the beans will change, but the quality will stay the same. That’s really what we focus on: what tastes good and what is good for our customers.”
Trek Outpost is open at White House Fruit Farm in Canfield in June every day except Wednesday. Stop by between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday.
“Strawberry picking is happening, and blueberries will be starting in July. A lot of families are coming more often, and they’ll be here soon,” Mendenhall said.
