Black Coffee: Happy National Coffee Day!

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For the past 6 years I have been directing you to this blog, The Sistah Cafe on National Coffee Day.  National Coffee Day is the day when the snarkiest of the snarks come together over space and time to raise their mugs high in honor this bean juice that we are all addicted to.  For years my notorious National Coffee Day posts with their full listing of nationwide #CoffeeDay deals catapulted my number of site visitors to the moon!

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These days I have chosen to celebrate Coffee Christmas in a different way, pulling the celebration of my favorite drink into my niche, Black Culture.  I started this last year by providing a FULL list of Black owned and operated Coffee (and tea) spots across the country.

This year I decided to tighten my focus a bit by sharing details of two specific Black Owned and Operated Coffee Spots: UniTEA & Coffee and Red Bay Coffee Roasters.  Both establishments contribute greatly to their communities and should be recognized.

Happy National Coffee Day!

UniTEA & Coffee

This Atlanta based eatery and community meeting place is located inside 640 West which has been a staple in the RDA neighborhood for years. But UniTEA & Coffee is brand new and a great addition to Atlanta’s west end.  Catering to millenials on-the-go this place has plenty of open space and free wifi.

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I got to visit them for a media tasting and their new HOT Vegan breakfast menu was delicious.  We got to try the Avocado Toast, Breakfast Burrito and their Vegan Latte.

The Avocado Toast

You haven’t had Avocado Toast until you’ve had Chef Duece’s.  Chef Deuce is UniTEA & Coffee’s In-House Chef.  His love of Food & Art shows through on every dish.

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This one had Avocado topped with caramelized onion, arugula and balsamic glaze with an edible flower on the side to be used as a garnish.  It was truly fresh and delicious.

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Vegan Breakfast Burrito

This burrito was thick and very filling.  There were various sirachas and aiolis stuffed inside this “meaty” vegan burrito!

Atlanta!  UniTEA & Coffee is having a ReGrand Opening tomorrow, September 30th.  The five new “Hot Vegan” menu items include a Fiesta Breakfast Burrito, the McVegan Sandwich, Avocado Toast, Indigenous Grains, and an Acai/Coconut Yogurt. Stop by and support this Black Owned establishment. Happy National Coffee Day!

Red Bay Coffee Roasters

This Los Angeles based Coffee business is doing incredible things for their community.  It was founded by entrepreneur Keba Konte.

Red Bay Coffee’s staff is composed entirely of women, people of color, and formerly incarcerated people.   ~RedBayCoffee.com

This year Red Bay Coffee Roasters brought together women from across the diaspora to celebrate African culture and beauty.

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Headwraps in the Park Festival

Nearly four thousand women congregated at Grand Park in Downtown, Los Angeles for the fourth annual Head Wraps in the Park Festival made possible by Red Bay Coffee Roasters.  The event is a celebration of culture and the brainchild of Fatima Dodson, a local business owner in Los Angeles. The concept for the festival originated from the desire and need to create a safe space for women of all ethnicities to celebrate wearing head wraps. Head wraps, also known as “goddess wraps”, are a garment of choice associated with the natural hair movement in the African-American community. Goddess head wrapping is a global tradition ranging from South Asia to Africa. It is an art form that bridges cultures and also wonderfully displays creativity in textile arts & crafts. Originating in Sub-Saharan Africa, head wraps are an African beauty statement. Worn on the head and symbolizing a crown, the head wrap either covers hair completely or ties as a headband around the forehead to reveal the hair. There are many ways that someone can tie a head wrap, making it versatile enough to fit most personal styles.
The annual event draws women from around the world. “The event is appreciated by the community and provides the opportunity to celebrate African culture and beauty,” says Fatima Dodson.
Red Bay Coffee, the black-owned sustainable specialty coffee company with headquarters in Oakland, California, is a proud sponsor of the Head Wraps in the Park festival. Since its founding in 2014, Red Bay has been at the forefront of the fourth wave of coffee—a firm commitment to ensure coffee production is not only high quality and sustainable, but also a vehicle for social unity and economic empowerment. Red Bay Coffee’s Public Roasteries serve as hubs for building community and bringing Beautiful Coffee to the People.
“People are in need of a sense of courage and positivity. When Fatima invited us to support Head Wraps In The Park, we were happy to help. We source our coffee beans directly from countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Mexico, and Colombia–all with a rich history of creativity and expression. Celebrating culture truly resonates with us,” says Keba Konte Founder and CEO at Red Bay Coffee.
The arts and culture festival will included experiences for all ages. Event highlights included panel discussions, heading wrapping bars, live DJ, food and beverage trucks, photo and art exhibits and so much more. Red Bay Coffee and Head Wraps in the Park also supported a social media head wrap contest with cash prizes given to winners. A special moment was captured when attendees gathered and organized for a photos in the shape of the continent of Africa.
That’s it for this years celebration of Black Culture and Black Coffee.  Coffee Lovers, I hope that you will make it a point to seek out and support Black owned Coffee Shops.  Happy National Coffee Day!

 

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Thank you for visiting my site. My name is Stacey Taylor aka “The SistahChick” I am the Head Sistah-In-Charge here at TheSistahCafe.com.   I am an Atlanta based Professional Blogger who spends my time enjoying the beauty of everyday life and sharing that here on my blog.