Black Coffee as Black as Me

Art in the making. From the field to your table, it’s an art to make the drink you desire at the top of your morning.

There are layers to coffee just like onions. When the green beans are roasting, they go through stages. Slowly through the pressure from the heat, they expand and crack. The gas they emit is like a scream from their insides.

Reminds me of the hymns that were sung during salary. Although they like the beans experienced pressure, my ancestors held onto their core, held onto their identity.

Black…

But what is black coffee? Is this article all about coffee or is there something deeper?

Where do you go to get your coffee? Do you run on Dunkin or do you go to Starbucks?

Unbeknownst to many there are a lot of black ran coffee shops, that are changing up the game, pouring into the community.

But…

Like most industries, we have to fight for our buck.

Why do you have a black owned anything? Shouldn’t it be inclusive?

For us, it’s a sense of ownership and perseverance. When I see a black brother or sister be the first or start a business, I applaud and support them.

You have to understand our plight to truly understand our why.

So, we can’t bring a business back to our community to assist and better them?

Black coffee, as black as me. I connect to it and before you judge, take time to read my story.

This past year, I ventured out. I dove into the coffee industry.

Our online coffee shop is called Coco Bear Café. Serving specialty coffee and freshly roasted coffee beans.

However that is not our only goal. Our ultimate goal is to open up a cooperative space for youth and young adults. They can meet up, be productive, host events and grow in areas that benefit their own communities.

We are a Chicagoland based shop. Thus, the media depicts youth in urban cities as if they are all troublesome with no direction. Seldom do they talk about the value of the people within. We believe the next generation is our biggest community asset. The youth in the Chicagoland area are leaders in their own right and there is a purpose and plan for each of them.

Now, that you know a little bit of my story, do you see the impact black owned businesses… black owned coffee shops have?

It’s not just about coffee, there is much more underneath the surface. The foundation is not coffee, that’s just something we do. The foundation is service to those around us; our customers and the leaders we are creating within our community.

A coffee shop charity organization in Chicago is doing a great job in their efforts of bringing about mental health. They are called “Coffee, Hip Hop & Mental Health.”

Stepping outside of Chicago, a more well-known coffee roaster is Blk & Bold. They “donate 5% of its profits to nonprofit organization to support at-risk youth.”

I had one of Blk & Bold’s dark specialty coffee beans and it is delicious. The blend consists of Lemon and bell pepper and it is full bodied. I enjoy the smoothness and the dark undertone of these beans. You can easily taste the notes of the flavor as well.

Another popular coffee shop is Sip & Savor in Chicago. Juneteenth last year, Bronzeville had a Black owned restaurant crawl. I went to Brozeneville Wingz (the wings are on point!) but unfortunately I did not get to go to this coffee shop. Don’t worry I’m gonna go catch them soon.

The founder/Ceo of Sip & Savor Trez V. Pugh III’s, “passion has always been to contribute to the community by creating jobs, mentoring the youth and inspiring others to believe in themselves and to work hard to achieve their dreams.”

For the rest about Mr. Pugh and their coffee shop visit site.

As you have read, black owned businesses are not just being a bit too loud, shouting, whatever you try to label us as. Black owned businesses, black owned coffee shops is us giving back to the communities. Anybody can go and buy somebody food, but not everybody sticks around to help build communities and help to change lives.

We do… Black Owned Coffee Shops do.