October 13th 2023.
When Jessica Taylor decided to launch Ezra Coffee, she saw it as nothing more than a passion project. Little did she know, 18 months later it would be found at Target, Amazon, and over 40 local grocery stores across the country.
"I had all these pieces, these nuggets, but nothing cohesively in one space," Taylor said. "So I pulled in my love for scholarship programming, history, coffee, and of educating people of color, and I wrapped it all into Ezra."
The defining aspect of Ezra is its founder's commitment to using one of the world's most popular beverages to tell the history of not only Black people but also the Black LGBTQ community. Through the names of some of its most popular blends, Taylor pays homage to the people whose sacrifice made way for her entrepreneurial pursuits. Names like "64th and Tulsa" and "Lorde Baldwin" help speak to the lasting impact of those who came before while Ghanaian Adinkra symbols found on the bag's seals speak to the global connection of Black people around the world.
"On the back of our bags, we tell amazing stories about Black people that aren’t rooted in adversity and slavery," Taylor said. "There are so many people who have done great things and made inventions we don’t know about."
Taylor found financial help through Target’s accelerator program, Target Forward Founders, as well as Texas grocer franchise H-E-B’s Quest for the Best competition. The former earned her a spot on Target.com; the latter helped her land on H-E-B’s shelves five months later. Furthermore, she was the recipient of a $5,000 grant from Pfizer’s BREAKTHROUGH accelerator program, which is aimed at supporting women of color entrepreneurs.
"We’re just continuing to expand," she said. "We’re small, but we’re scrappy."
When Jessica Taylor had the idea to create Ezra Coffee, it was more of a passion project than anything. However, 18 months later, it has found its way to Target, Amazon, and over 40 local grocery stores. Through her love of scholarship programming, history, coffee, and educating people of color, Taylor has been able to bring this brand to life.
The defining aspect of Ezra is its founder's commitment to using one of the world's most popular beverages to tell the history of Black people and the Black LGBTQ community. Through the names of its most popular blends, Taylor pays homage to the people who have helped make her entrepreneurial pursuits a reality. Names like "64th and Tulsa" and "Lorde Baldwin" help to remember those who have made an impact, while Ghanaian Adinkra symbols found on the bag's seals speak to the global connection of Black people around the world.
Taylor has found financial help through Target’s accelerator program, Target Forward Founders, and H-E-B’s Quest for the Best competition. Additionally, she was awarded a $5,000 grant from Pfizer’s BREAKTHROUGH accelerator program, which is aimed at supporting women of color entrepreneurs.
"We’re just continuing to expand," Taylor said. "We’re small, but we’re scrappy." With her passion and dedication, it is clear that Ezra Coffee will continue to be a success story for years to come.
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