What Kahawa1893 does

Kahawa 1893 is a Black and woman-owned specialty coffee company founded in 2018 by Kenyan immigrant Margaret Nyamumbo and based in Berkeley, California. The company sources beans directly from collectives and family farms in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Congo, and sells premium African single-origin and blended coffees (Safari, Serengeti, Kenyan/Ethiopian single origins, Tanzania Peaberry, 1893 Espresso, Chai Spice, Simba, decaf) under its own brand, paying farmers nearly double the fair trade minimum price of $1.80/lb.

The product portfolio spans 12 oz whole bean and ground bags ($18.99–$21.99), Keurig K-Cup pods ($20.99/20-ct) launched through a partnership with Keurig Dr Pepper in July 2024, 100% compostable single-serve coffee "tea bag" packs, functional extensions (Metaboost for metabolism, Mindboost for focus) priced $29.99–$39.99, and a high-caffeine Arabica/Robusta line (New York and Nile blends). Supporting services include a Subscribe & Save subscription (50% off first order, 20% off recurring), the Safari Insiders Club loyalty program (Smile.io), a bundle builder (Rebuy) with progressive 10–15% discounts, and a bitcoin-powered Farmer Tip Program that distributes consumer-matched tips to women farmers in Africa.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce on a Shopify storefront, with secondary channels including national grocery distribution at Trader Joe's (since 2021 — the first Black woman-owned coffee brand on its shelves), the Keurig K-Cup partnership reaching ~40 million U.S. households, and a wholesale program for bulk buyers. The company raised a single disclosed round of $350,000 from Emma Grede on ABC's Shark Tank in February 2023 for 8% equity (implied ~$4.375M post-money valuation) and reports cumulative sales exceeding $7 million since that appearance. Customer segments center on health-conscious, ethically minded, and convenience-seeking U.S. specialty coffee consumers.

Name

Kahawa1893

Legal name

Kahawa 1893

Website

https://kahawa1893.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kahawa 1893 is a Black and woman-owned specialty coffee company founded in 2018 that sources beans directly from East African women farmers and sells premium African coffees via D2C e-commerce, Trader Joe's, and a Keurig K-Cup partnership to U.S. specialty coffee consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Specialty african coffee
• Single-origin coffee
• Direct trade coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Single-serve coffee pods

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of coffee products (whole bean, ground, K-Cup pods, single-serve packs) through the company's Shopify storefront with subscription options.
2. Subscription Model: Subscribe & Save program offering 50% off first subscription order and 20% off subsequent deliveries. Customers can choose delivery frequencies of 14, 21, 30, or 60 days.
3. Wholesale: Wholesale program mentioned on the website for bulk orders.
4. Tip/Giving Program: Customers can send tips directly to farmers ($2-$100), with the company matching dollar-for-dollar.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kahawa 1893 roasts and sells specialty-grade African coffee products — including whole bean, ground, K-Cup pods, single-serve compostable coffee packs, functional blends, and curated gift boxes — sourced directly from women-led cooperatives and family farms in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Congo. Offerings are sold direct-to-consumer through a Shopify storefront with a Subscribe & Save program, alongside retail distribution at Trader Joe's and Keurig-compatible pods.

Product overview

Kahawa 1893 is a Black and woman-owned specialty coffee company selling premium African-sourced coffee products through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform. The core product portfolio consists of whole bean, ground, and single-serve coffee in multiple roast profiles (light, medium, dark, flavored) sourced from East African countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Congo. Products are available as traditional coffee bags (12oz, 2LB, 5LB), Keurig-compatible K-Cup pods, and innovative single-serve coffee tea bags. The company differentiates through functional coffee extensions (Metaboost for metabolism, Mindboost for focus), a high-caffeine line (New York and Nile blends with Arabica/Robusta), and pre-curated gift boxes. Supporting services include a subscription program with 50% first-order discount, the Safari Insiders Club loyalty rewards program powered by Smile.io, and a direct farmer tip program where consumers can send tips to women farmers with dollar-for-dollar company matching. The company sells direct-to-consumer via Shopify, with wholesale, retail (Trader Joe's), and Keurig partnership distribution channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safari Blend Flagship medium-roast East African coffee blend sold in whole bean, ground, and K-Cup pod formats; marketed as a best-seller with balanced flavor notes for daily coffee consumers.
• Serengeti Blend Dark-roast African coffee blend delivering bold, rich flavor, available in whole bean, ground, and K-Cup pod formats for dark-roast drinkers.
• Kenyan Single Origin Single-origin medium-roast coffee sourced directly from Kenya, featuring berry and citrus notes characteristic of Kenyan beans for specialty coffee drinkers.
• Ethiopian Single Origin Single-origin medium-roast coffee from Ethiopia, offering bright, fruity flavors and floral aromatics for specialty coffee enthusiasts.
• Tanzania Peaberry Premium single-origin medium-roast made from peaberry beans grown in Tanzania, providing a smooth, sweet cup with bright acidity for premium-coffee buyers.
• 1893 Espresso Medium-roast espresso blend engineered for espresso extraction, featuring rich, balanced flavors suited to espresso-based drinks for home baristas.
• Chai Spice Coffee Flavored medium-roast coffee infused with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, inspired by dirty chai and sold as part of the African Spice collection for flavored-coffee buyers.
• Decaf Blend Swiss Water Processed decaf medium-roast blend with notes of chocolate and brown sugar, enabling caffeine-sensitive consumers to drink coffee any time of day.
• Simba Blend Medium-light roast African blend, the lightest option in the lineup, named after the Swahili word for lion, targeted at light-roast drinkers.
• Keurig K-Cup Pods Single-serve Keurig-compatible coffee pods sold in 20-count boxes for Safari (medium) and Serengeti (dark) blends, distributed via a Keurig Dr Pepper partnership.
• Single-Serve Coffee Packs Innovative 100% compostable single-serve coffee in tea-bag format that produces pour-over taste in 5 minutes, available in Safari, Serengeti, and African Spice varieties for travelers and commuters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $7 million in sales since Shark Tank appearance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Keurig Dr PeppercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 July 2024Partnership to launch Safari and Serengeti signature African coffee blends in K-Cup pod format, making the brand available to 40 million U.S. households with Keurig brewers. This was the first time the premium coffee brand was available in K-Cup format, fulfilling customer demand following Shark Tank appearance.
• Trader Joe'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Kahawa 1893 became the first Black woman-owned coffee brand to be sold at Trader Joe's in 2021, following the company's Shark Tank appearance. This retail partnership significantly expanded the brand's distribution and consumer reach.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Blue Bottle Coffee: Specialty D2C and retail coffee brand with subscription model and café presence; now owned by Nestlé. Directly comparable on origin-led positioning, subscription, and premium pricing strategy.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with strong D2C, wholesale, and grocery distribution (including Keurig partnerships). Comparable on multi-channel distribution and premium positioning.
• Trade Coffee: Subscription-first specialty coffee marketplace with curated single-origin offerings. Highly comparable on subscription mechanics, origin storytelling, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce model.
• Driftaway Coffee: Subscription-based specialty coffee company focused on transparent, direct-trade sourcing from women farmers. Directly comparable on subscription model and women-farmer impact narrative.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster with D2C, grocery (including Keurig partnerships and major retail), and café presence. Comparable on K-Cup distribution and premium D2C positioning.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with strong sustainability, direct-trade, and education focus; sells D2C and wholesale. Comparable on sustainability-led positioning and specialty roasting.

Broad incumbents

• Peet's Coffee: Large specialty coffee incumbent owned by Lavazza with D2C, grocery, and foodservice presence. Comparable on specialty coffee category and grocery distribution overlap.
• Keurig Dr Pepper: Owns Keurig brewing systems and Green Mountain coffee; both a channel partner and the dominant competitor in single-serve coffee. Highly relevant as the distribution partner for Kahawa1893 K-Cups.

Emerging players

• Black Rifle Coffee Company: Venture-funded D2C coffee brand with strong subscription model and retail expansion. Comparable on D2C subscription-led growth playbook and grocery channel entry trajectory.

Regional players

• Equator Coffees: Specialty roaster with West Coast café, wholesale, and D2C presence, including impact and women-farmer partnerships. Comparable on women-farmer impact narrative and Bay Area origin presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kahawa1893

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kahawa1893