Teaspressa Tea Update | Shark Tank Season 7

Allison DeVane kept getting headaches every time she drank coffee, but she still wanted the caffeine boost. While making tea at home, she realized some teas had just as much caffeine but didn’t cause the same side effects. That led to Teaspressa, a tea that brews like espresso, giving the same energy without the headaches. Let’s see if she managed to secure a deal with any of the sharks in our Teaspressa update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Teaspressa after Shark Tank.

Allison entered Shark Tank Season 7, seeking $50,000 for 10% equity in Teaspressa. After her pitch, she left without a deal, as none of the sharks found the business worthy of investment.

In terms of a Teaspressa update, the company experienced rapid growth, achieving a 20-fold sales increase and expanding to multiple locations and major retailers in 2018. Unfortunately, the company then faced significant setbacks, closing its physical locations in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank Teaspressa Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Allison DeVane
• Business: Concentrated, espresso-inspired tea shots
• Ask: $50,000 for 10% equity
• Result: No deal
• Shark: None

Allison introduced Teaspressa to the sharks, a company that makes concentrated tea shots.

She explained that her tea is brewed like espresso, offering a stronger flavor and the same caffeine boost as coffee but without the jitters or crash.

She needed an investment to expand her business and handed out samples for them to try.

Allison explained that she started with pop-up shops in Arizona before deciding to commit to the business full-time.

Through persistence, she secured a spot in a retail store in Phoenix, where her tea had been selling for five months.

So far, she had generated $26,000 in sales, a number that caught the sharks’ attention.

Allison explained that while the tea could be purchased alone, using it with a Teaspressa pot provided the best experience.

However, she added that retail locations with professional espresso machines could make the tea even better.

This raised further questions about whether she was selling a product or an entire system.

Customers could buy Teaspressa online and in her Arizona retail store.

However, confusion quickly set in when Allison mentioned she also wanted to develop machines to brew the tea.

This statement puzzled Robert Herjavec and Barbara Corcoran, while Kevin O’Leary jokingly pointed out that Robert looked completely lost.

The sharks were now unclear whether they would be investing in the tea itself or the brewing technology.

Sensing the sharks’ hesitation, Allison defended her approach. She explained that she had been aggressive in growing Teaspressa, taking any opportunity to expand.

However, Kevin remained unimpressed, arguing that her presentation lacked structure and clarity. Allison appeared frustrated as he openly criticized her pitch.

Lori Greiner attempted to clarify by asking if Teaspressa was selling tea or brewing machines. Instead of answering directly, Allison began discussing cup designs she had created for her store.

Kevin did not hold back. He reminded Allison that this was her one chance to sell the product and urged her to focus.

Allison finally addressed the investment request, stating that she wanted the $50,000 to expand her website and develop a brewing machine for Teaspressa teas.

However, Barbara was not convinced. She believed that communication issues would create challenges in a business partnership. Consequently, she dropped out.

Kevin, still unconvinced, stated that he had no idea what Allison’s business actually was and also dropped out.

Mark Cuban believed she had come too early in the process. While he acknowledged her determination, he’s out.

Robert told her that passion alone was not enough to build a successful business. Without a clear direction, he went out, too.

Lori was now Allison’s last hope. She believed that Allison had come too early in her journey. For that reason, she exits the deal leaving Allison with no deal.

Now, let’s check in for a Teaspressa update.

Shark Tank Teaspressa Update

Our Teaspressa update found that their Shark Tank exposure led to a 20-fold increase in sales, allowing Allison to open a storefront in Old Town Scottsdale.

In 2018, the company expanded to Arizona and Michigan. Major retailers like Anthropologie and Nordstrom stocked its LUXE-infused sugar cubes.

However, the pandemic in 2020 forced the company to shut down its physical locations.

Expansion plans stalled, but Allison focused on online sales and wholesale partnerships, keeping revenue at $1 million annually.

In 2021, Oprah’s Favorite Things featured Teaspressa’s cocktail kits, increasing visibility and demand.

The company expanded into flavored elixirs, tea toppings, and cocktail kits, strengthening its product lineup.

Further, in early 2023, Teaspressa products were in over 2,000 retailers worldwide, including the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand

In April 2023, Teaspressa partnered with Greenwood Brewing to launch GreenTea Kölsch, a tea-infused beer.

We can’t wait to see how much further the company grows in our next Teaspressa update.

For more information about the other products featured in Season 7 Episode 20, check out our company updates below.

• BetterBack Update
• Glace Cryotherapy Update
• Linka Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 7 products.