April 28, 2025

Hot brew, brought to you

A blonde haired woman sitting in a trailer with a coffee cop, there is a quote on the trailer that says "a bad day with coffee is better than a good day without it." — Ali Catto’s new coffee trailer, BREW3D, is dedicated to keeping South Hills residents caffeinated and supplied with baked goods. Photo: Elizabeth Hruby McCabe

pecialty food and beverage trucks are more popular than ever. With social media followings and much more flexibility, small business owners like Ali Catto can attract more customers by bringing the product to them. Catto, Carnegie Drive, is the owner of BREW3D, a new mobile coffee trailer based in Mt. Lebanon.

Catto is a pastry chef by trade, with more than a decade of experience working for Market District bakery and others in the Pittsburgh area.

“I took the last 14 years to decide what I really wanted to do … And over time, just really honed in on what brought me joy,” she said.

The idea for the coffee trailer came about during long days spent at her kids’ lacrosse tournaments, without adequate options to stay caffeinated.

“The whole concept of a trailer was born at the tournaments for youth sports. It’s an all-day event and there’s nowhere to get a cup of coffee,” said Catto. “It was a great opportunity to bring that kind of option to families, committed to these five-, six- or seven-hour events.”

A blonde haired woman in a pink blazer holding a coffee cup in her trailer coffee shop — Catto’s coffee trailer makes appearances all over Lebo. Photo: Elizabeth Hruby McCabe

Catto bakes her signature New York-style cookies and cake jars at Batches Bakehouse, a shared kitchen in Pittsburgh’s Arlington neighborhood. She sells treats at BREW3D alongside coffee, a rotating menu of seasonal lattes, Italian soda and hot chocolate.

Since its opening last September, the pink trailer served customers outside of schools, businesses, sporting events and holiday celebrations, as well as private events such as baby showers and weddings. To stay active during colder months, Catto started bottling lattes to sell at Mort’s Fresh and Local indoor farmers market and other vendor fairs. Catto’s husband, mom and children often pitch in to make each BREW3D appearance a success.

Catto and business partner Hannah Olsen are opening a brick-and-mortar coffee shop, The Baked Bean, on Broadmoor Avenue this summer. The shop will feature specialty lattes, cupcakes, drop cookies, macarons, croissants and other fresh bakery will be available. The drink and food menus will change frequently, so customers can expect something new each time they visit. (Read more about The Baked Bean here.)

You can follow BREW3D on Instagram @brew3dpgh for weekly schedules, menus and more.