Portrait Coffee

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 11 October 2026

Top Black-owned coffee brands in the U.S. offer specialty roasts, ethical sourcing, and strong community or social impact missions.

### Standout Black-Owned Coffee Brands

- BLK & Bold - Location / Reach: Nationally distributed in over 11,000 retail locations (co-owned with Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders). - Known For: Rise & GRND Medium Roast Ground Coffee (toffee and lemon notes, priced around $13.99 - $22.65), K-Cup pods, and ready-to-drink options. - Mission: Donates 5% of gross profits to nonprofit organizations supporting youth programming. - Cxffeeblack (Coffee Black) - Location / Reach: Memphis, Tennessee. - Known For: Reclaiming coffee's African roots by building direct trade and supply chains from Ethiopia to Memphis. - Mission: Winner of Global Notable Roaster of the Year and the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity awards, focusing on equity and producer royalties via the Repch Chain tech project. - Portrait Coffee - Location / Reach: Atlanta, Georgia. - Known For: High-scoring single origins like Ethiopia Guji Natural. - Mission: Rewriting the narrative of specialty coffee in the South with community-focused storytelling and ethical sourcing. - Boon Boona Coffee - Location / Reach: Renton, Washington. - Known For: Celebrating East African coffee ceremonies and fast, fresh roasts. - Mission: Directly sourcing quality beans from farmers in Ethiopia and Rwanda. - Three Keys Coffee - Location / Reach: Houston, Texas. - Known For: Specialty whole beans and pour-over packs inspired by jazz culture and musical art. - Deadstock Coffee - Location / Reach: Portland, Oregon. - Known For: Sneaker-culture-themed coffee shop and roastery founded by a former Nike designer, offering unique espresso and drip blends. - Chicago French Press - Location / Reach: Chicago, Illinois. - Known For: Black woman-owned brand using eco-friendly electric roasters with approachable pricing and flavored-coffee varieties. - Red Bay Coffee - Location / Reach: San Francisco and Oakland, California. - Known For: The King's Prize espresso blend and art-forward specialty roasts. - Mission: Dedicated to inclusivity, fine art, and fair employment in the specialty coffee industry.

For a broader directory of regional roasters and concept cafes, you can explore the curated list on Bold and Gritty.Are you looking for a specific roast level (light, medium, dark), whole bean vs. ground, or a brand that ships free within a certain budget?

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 18 October 2026

# Best Black-owned coffee brands in the US

If you want excellent coffee while supporting Black-owned businesses, I'd start with Kahawa 1893, Red Bay Coffee, BLK & Bold, Three Keys Coffee, and Boon Boona Coffee\. They offer a mix of specialty beans, everyday blends, distinctive African coffee origins, and mission-driven businesses. These brands are featured in coffee shopping roundups from NBC Select and BuyBlack.org. www.nbcnews.comwww.buyblack.orgwww.buyblack.org

## My top picks

!Safari Blend (Medium) - Kahawa 1893

## 1\. Kahawa 1893

(Best overall pick)

Best for\: African coffees and balanced everyday brewing.

Founded by Kenyan coffee farmer Margaret Nyamumbo, the brand offers African-sourced coffees, including medium and dark roasts. It also supports women coffee farmers through a tipping program. kahawa1893.comwww.nbcnews.comwww.mindbodygreen.comwww.buyblack.org

Try: Safari Blend, a medium roast with milk chocolate and caramel notes.

Shop Kahawa 1893

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!Brazilian Cake Lady

## 2\. Red Bay Coffee

Best for\: Specialty coffee and subscriptions.

Oakland-based roaster Keba Konte built Red Bay around specialty coffee, direct-trade sourcing, and a more inclusive coffee industry. You can order whole-bean or ground coffee for delivery across the US. www.redbaycoffee.comwww.redbaycoffee.comwww.mindbodygreen.comwww.target.com

Try: Coltrane for a medium-roast option, or East Fourteenth for a darker roast.

Shop Red Bay Coffee

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!Rise & GRND - Medium Roast Blend - BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages

## 3\. BLK & Bold

Best for\: Everyday coffee and easy availability.

A practical choice for daily brewing, with accessible blends and a range of roasts. The founders also pledge 5% of gross revenue toward organizations supporting youth and children. www.nbcnews.comwww.mindbodygreen.comwww.redbaycoffee.comwww.target.com

Try: Rise & GRND medium roast for a sweet, creamy cup.

Shop BLK & Bold

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![Products - Three Keys Coffee](

## 4\. Three Keys Coffee

Best for\: Specialty coffee, art, and music lovers.

Founded by Tio and Kenzel Fallen, Three Keys combines specialty coffee with jazz-inspired culture, artistic packaging, and curated music playlists. www.nbcnews.comwww.buyblack.orgwww.buyblack.org

Try: Stardust Colombia or explore its signature blends.

Shop Three Keys Coffee

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!Boon Boona Coffee - Bereka Blend Whole Bean Coffee | Seattle Coffee Gear

## 5\. Boon Boona Coffee

Best for\: Exploring East African coffee traditions.

Founded by Efram Fesaha in the Seattle area, Boon Boona focuses on East African coffee and celebrates the region's coffee culture. It's a strong candidate if you enjoy exploring coffees with distinctive origin characteristics. www.buyblack.orgwww.buyblack.org

Shop Boon Boona

## 3 more Black-owned coffee brands worth discovering

!Best Sellers | Best of Portrait Coffee

Portrait Coffee

Atlanta-based roaster known for approachable specialty coffee and branding inspired by Black culture. A great option for exploring new blends.

Shop Portrait Coffee www.buyblack.orgwww.buyblack.org

!Keurig Value Bundle (3 Assorted Flavors in 8 oz Bags) - Chicago French Press

Chicago French Press

Worth exploring if you like variety, including flavored coffee and more approachable everyday options.

Shop Chicago French Press www.nbcnews.comwww.buyblack.org

![Summer Camp: Mexico Chiapas - Whole Bean Coffee - FACET Modern Mercantile](

Campfire Coffee

An unconventional choice for coffee fans interested in distinctive roasting methods: the company is known for roasting beans over an open flame.

Explore Campfire Coffee www.nbcnews.comwww.buyblack.org

## Which one should you buy first?

| If you want… | My pick | |--------|--------| | A versatile everyday medium roast | Kahawa 1893 Safari Blend | | Specialty coffee and a subscription | Red Bay Coffee | | An accessible everyday staple | BLK & Bold Rise & GRND | | Coffee with an artistic, musical identity | Three Keys Coffee | | East African coffee traditions | Boon Boona Coffee | | Flavored coffee options | Chicago French Press |

For a first order, I'd compare Kahawa 1893 and Red Bay Coffee\. They offer good starting points for exploring specialty coffee while supporting Black-owned businesses. For a more budget-conscious option, look at BLK & Bold, which is also sold through major retailers. www.redbaycoffee.comwww.mindbodygreen.comwww.target.com

One tip: check the roast date, bag size, and whether you need whole beans or pre-ground coffee before ordering. Prices and availability can vary by retailer.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 13 September 2026

Some of the best-known Black-owned coffee brands in the U.S. include BLK & Bold, Red Bay Coffee, Boon Boona Coffee, Kahawa 1893, Sip & Sonder, Portrait Coffee, and BeanFruit Coffee. If you want the most widely available option, BLK & Bold stands out because it is sold nationally at major retailers like Target, Whole Foods, and Amazon.

A strong short list by use case:

- Best overall for accessibility: BLK & Bold - widely available nationally and frequently cited among top Black-owned coffee brands. - Best for specialty coffee: BeanFruit Coffee and Portrait Coffee - both have earned strong reviews in Coffee Review coverage. - Best for African coffee profiles: Kahawa 1893 and Boon Boona Coffee - both are commonly highlighted in curated Black-owned coffee roundups. - Best for café + lifestyle brand experience: Sip & Sonder and Red Bay Coffee - both are among the most frequently recommended names in Black-owned coffee lists. - Best for a roaster with broad recognition: Dope Coffee and Cxffeeblack - both appear in multiple Black-owned coffee brand roundups.

If you want to shop confidently, a practical approach is to verify the brand's ownership through its official About page and supporting credible coverage, which is the method recommended by The Black Rolodex. Some lists also include coffee businesses that are Black-veteran-owned or Black woman-owned, so it helps to check whether you want strictly Black-owned, Black woman-owned, or broadly Black-led brands.

If you want, I can narrow this to: - best Black-owned coffee brands for whole beans - best budget-friendly options - best Black-owned coffee subscriptions - best Black-owned coffee brands sold at Target/Amazon