From roasting beans on her home stove, entrepreneur Jessica Taylor has climbed her way to having her coffee products featured in one of Texas’ largest grocery chains.
Before jumping into entrepreneurship, she worked at Toyota as a national diversity, equity, and inclusion business partner. However, she soon turned her focus toward coffee when her sister, Victoria, developed an allergy to soy and nuts and discovered she was lactose intolerant as well, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Taylor then began working on different recipes from her home stove so her sister could enjoy one of their favorite delicacies. It was at this very moment that she laid the foundation for Ezra Coffee.
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After seeing the benefits of her coffee for her sister, she wanted to help other minority communities who shared similar health issues.
What’s more, through her coffee company, Taylor has since amplified more areas of importance such as education and pioneers in history. For example, the 64th & Tulsa blend commemorates Black Wall Street and the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the outlet mentions.
“…Jessica incorporates her passion for storytelling and the celebration of Black culture into Ezra’s packaging,” the company website reads. “Each blend name highlights significant events and individuals in our collective American history. Jessica’s commitment to education extends beyond the bag as Ezra donates a portion of its proceeds to provide scholarships to students pursuing four-year degrees.”
In just two years, Taylor has seen great success for her business in a competitive industry projected to reach $110.7 billion in 2028, per Statista. Her products are being carried on Target’s online store after she participated in the retailer’s eight-week accelerator program in June 2021.
Her products are also shelved in over 40 Texas-based H-E-B stores (at the time of this writing).
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“This has been such a labor of love and an amazing experience and I can truly say I could have not done this with out you guys,” Taylor said on Instagram. “Less than 1% of Black-owned brands secure retail distribution and to have done this in 18 months is truly a testament to Gods favor.”
Looking ahead, Ezra Coffee plans to brew up a storm with new product additions. The company has also recently entered the Michigan market and has ambitious plans to venture into other states in 2024.
