What Cxffeeblack does

Cxffeeblack is a Memphis-based, founder-led specialty coffee company established in 2019 by Bartholomew Jones and Renata Henderson. The company operates what it describes as the first all-Black coffee supply chain, sourcing single-origin coffees directly from named Black-owned or Black-led farms across Ethiopia (Ture Waji at Sookoo Coffee, Guji Zone), Kenya (Kuria Family at Solai Coffee), Rwanda (Higa Coffee), Uganda (Mountain Harvest), and Colombia (Dulcey Family at Café Solo, El Tambo). Its product portfolio spans whole-bean specialty coffee (priced $18-$28 per 12oz), decaffeinated offerings, micro-lot reserves, and a ready-to-drink Gold Brew cold brew line in OG Lemonhead, Rose Gold, and Black Gold variants produced in Memphis through Comeback Bev Co. Apparel, drinkware, gift cards, and limited-edition collaboration drops (e.g., 8 Ball, COMOCO Cotton) supplement the core coffee business.

The company's underlying operational architecture pairs a Shopify-powered DTC storefront with a wholesale partnership on Airgoods and a physical retail/education hub — the Anti Gentrification Coffee Club at 3386 Bowden Ave, Memphis. The proprietary 'Rep Chain' system issues Royalty Receipts carrying farmer names, photos, and farm coordinates, routing 10% of founding-box revenue back to producers as direct royalties. Education and community infrastructure include the S.I.T. (Specialist-in-Training) program for local career development and the Barista Exchange Program, which has run origin trips to Africa (Phase 1, Nov 2023) and reciprocal exchanges to Memphis (Phase 2, Fall 2024), plus academic partnerships with the Vanderbilt Institute for Coffee Studies.

Cxffeeblack monetizes through a hybrid model: recurring subscriptions ($50/month Anti Gentrification Coffee Club, $555.50 multi-year Rep Chain Founding Box capped at 500 units), transactional DTC sales (coffee, cold brew, apparel), wholesale distribution to cafes and roasters, and ancillary revenue from creative-space rentals ($200 venue / $350 group cupping) and gift cards. GTM is community-led — leveraging documentary storytelling, Friday Drops with 72-hour preorder windows, cultural programming, and earned media (Vice, NPR, BBC, Fast Company, Sprudge, Black Enterprise). A 2024 equity crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder funds a global roasting HQ buildout in Memphis, with a new headquarters at 3386 Bowen Ave announced for 2026.

Name

Cxffeeblack

Legal name

Cxffeeblack

Website

https://cxffeeblack.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cxffeeblack is a Memphis-based specialty coffee company, founded in 2019 by Bartholomew Jones and Renata Henderson, that operates an all-Black coffee supply chain from Africa to the US, selling single-origin beans, RTD cold brew, apparel, and education-driven community programming through DTC e-commerce, wholesale, and a Memphis retail hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Specialty Coffee Adjacent Beverage Bars (Chai, Cacao, Alternative Lattes) (THAFAKAH), Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Ready-to-drink cold brew
• Direct trade coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Coffee education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Coffee Sales: E-commerce sales of whole bean coffee, cold brew cans, and coffee subscriptions through cxffeeblack.com. Includes single-origin coffees ($18-$28), decaf varieties ($20), and premium micro-lots ($27+).
2. Coffee Club Subscription Box: $50/month subscription delivering 2 bags of rotating coffee selections monthly, shipped fourth week of each month. Creates predictable recurring revenue while funding community employment programs.
3. Rep Chain Founding Box: Premium $555.50 founding box with 54 cans of ready-to-drink products, 7lbs of coffee, Rep Chain OS access, and quarterly episode drops. Limited to 500 numbered boxes.
4. Wholesale Distribution: B2B coffee sales through Airgoods wholesale platform with flexible terms for cafes, roasters, and shops.
5. Apparel and Merchandise: T-shirts ($32-$55), drinkware ($49), and limited edition apparel drops. Includes collaborations like COMOCO Cotton partnership.
6. Creative Space Rental: Cxffeeblack HQ creative space rental at $200 for venue rental and $350 for group coffee cupping experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cxffeeblack is a community-oriented, education-based specialty coffee company that roasts and sells single-origin whole bean coffees and canned ready-to-drink cold brews (Gold Brew) sourced through an all-Black supply chain spanning Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Colombia. The portfolio is anchored by a monthly Anti Gentrification Coffee Club subscription, the Rep Chain Founding Box paying farmers direct royalties, a physical Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club retail and education hub in Memphis, and apparel, drinkware, and gift cards.

Product overview

Cxffeeblack is a community-oriented, education-based coffee company offering specialty coffee products through multiple channels. The product portfolio centers on premium single-origin coffees sourced through an all-Black supply chain from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Colombia, complemented by ready-to-drink Gold Brew cold brew beverages in OG, Rose Gold, and Black varieties. The Anti Gentrification Coffee Club subscription delivers curated coffee monthly. Apparel products featuring cultural messaging and artwork round out the offerings. The company operates through Shopify-powered e-commerce with wholesale distribution via Airgoods, and maintains a physical presence at the Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club in Memphis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anti Gentrification Coffee Club: A coffee educational center and cultural hub located in Memphis, TN; also the name of the subscription service focused on community empowerment.
• Barista Exchange Program
• Specialist-in-Training (S.I.T.) Program
• Rep Chain
• Guji Mane

Products and services

• Gold Brew (OG LEMONHEAD) Flash-chilled cold brew made with monk fruit, citrus, and signature Guji Mane roast from Ethiopia's Guji Zone, available in 6-pack canned format for ready-to-drink convenience.
• Rose Gold Brew Afro-futuristic cold brew combining flash-chilled Guji Mane with hibiscus, rose water, citrus zest, and honey, presented in canned ready-to-drink format.
• Black Gold Brew Single-origin cold brew served black with no sweetener or fruit additives, made from Guji Mane coffee flash-chilled and packaged in cans in Memphis, TN via Comeback Bev Co.
• Anti Gentrification Coffee Club Subscription Box Monthly subscription delivering 2 bags of rotating single-origin coffee selections, shipping in the fourth week of each month, with proceeds supporting Black jobs, internships (S.I.T. program), and community outreach.
• OG Guji Mane Flagship natural Ethiopian Guji coffee sourced from Ture Waji at Sookoo Coffee in Guji Zone, Ethiopia, with tasting notes of passion fruit, papaya, nougat, caramel, and dark chocolate; sold as a 12oz whole bean bag.
• Guji Gold Reserve Micro-lot select reserve-tier Ethiopian Guji coffee featuring sun-dried Badeyi Ethiopian Heirloom varietal with tasting notes of lime zest, cane sugar, and golden brightness.
• Guji Lo-Fi Decaf Decaffeinated Ethiopian Guji coffee processed via the mountain water method, featuring tasting notes of candy corn, semi-sweet chocolate, and molasses.
• Fatherland Kenyan washed-process coffee sourced from Stephen and Margaret Kuria at Solai Coffee, featuring SL28, Ruiru 11, and Batian varietals with tasting notes of cherry, tootsie roll pop, and limeade.
• Fruit of Our Labor Rwandan natural-process coffee from Higa Coffee with tasting notes of strawberry, dark chocolate, and passionfruit, where $1 from each bag is donated to the Elevate Through Coffee Initiative for education.
• Fruit Angel Ugandan washed pineapple co-ferment coffee from Sironko Station featuring 120 hours of anaerobic fermentation, sourced from Mountain Harvest, which won 1st Place at the 2025 Uganda Taste of Harvest.
• Oh Que Sera Colombian Castillo varietal coffee co-fermented with honey, soursop, and lulo from the Dulcey Family in El Tambo, Colombia, featuring tasting notes of papaya, pineapple, red fruits, lime, and grapefruit.
• Stout Junt Traditional dark roast coffee with big body, chocolate notes, sweetness, and low acidity, designed for espresso lovers and strong morning cups.
• 8 Ball Coffee Bundle Limited-edition Memphis Rap Legend 8 Ball collaboration blend featuring 75% Kenyan AB and 25% Guji Mane anaerobic Ethiopian, with tasting notes of grape soda and chocolate chips; limited to 800 bundles including shirt, autographed bag, and mug.
• The Rep Chain Founding Box Quarterly premium subscription box at $555.50 containing 54 cans of ready-to-drink products, 7lbs of single-origin coffee, Rep Chain OS access, a Royalty Receipt card, and Episode One Booklet; 10% of each purchase goes back to producers as royalties; limited to 500 numbered Founding Edition boxes.
• Coffee Blessing Tee Apparel featuring the Memphis blessing message 'May your hood lack no coffee nor peace of God' with panther imagery, part of the Friday Drops HQ Celebration Collection.
• GOD DON'T MAKE NO JUNK Tee Limited-edition t-shirt collaboration with COMOCO Cotton by Netflix's Stephen Satterfield, made from cotton supply owned by Black farmers, featuring the 'God Don't Make No Junk' declaration.
• Miir x Barista Exchange All Day Mug Limited-edition 32oz stainless steel MiiR straw cup collaboration supporting the Cxffeeblack Barista Exchange Program, featuring a spill-resistant lid and flexible silicone straw.
• Cxffeeblack Gift Card Digital gift cards available in denominations from $10 to $250, usable online or in-store with no expiration or fees.
• African Gold Single Origins Tee Apparel featuring an Ethiopia, Yemen, and Kenya origins map representing coffee's journey from Africa to the world, released as part of the DROP #1 preorder collection.
• Cxffeeblack HQ Creative Space Rental Venue rental at $200 and group coffee cupping experiences at $350 at the Cxffeeblack HQ in Memphis, TN.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 from every bag of Fruit of Our Labor goes to Elevate Through Coffee Initiative in Rwanda for education
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• COMOCO Cotton (Stephen Satterfield)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2025First-ever Black supply chain collaboration between Cxffeeblack and COMOCO Cotton, founded by Netflix's High on the Hog Stephen Satterfield. Launched God Don't Make No Junk t-shirt made from Black-owned cotton supply. Coffee and cotton - two industries built on Black labor - reimagined through Black ownership. Both founders share commitment to reclaiming supply chains.
• Mountain Harvest (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Ugandan specialty coffee company with young Ugandan professionals in charge of processing research. Innovation Series produces unique co-ferments. Fruit Angel won 1st place at 2025 Uganda Taste of Harvest. Ibrahim Kiganda reached 2025 World Barista Championship in Milan.
• Vanderbilt University Institute for Coffee StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner for Voices from Origin panel conversation and brew up event during Barista Exchange Phase 2. Academic partnership for coffee education and cultural programming.
• 8 Ball Brand (Memphis Rap Legend)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration honoring Memphis legend 8 Ball. Bundle includes 8ball brand coffee shirt, autographed coffee bag and mug. 75% Kenyan AB from Soli family farm, 25% Guji Mane anaerobic Ethiopian. 800 limited bundles produced. Tastes like grape soda in chocolate chips.
• Café Solo (Dulcey Family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfro-Colombian family partnership sourcing from El Tambo, Colombia. Collaboration on Oh Que Será coffee celebrating Memphis-Colombia connection. Inspired by Willie Colón's salsa song. 40% co-fermented with lulo and soursop.
• MiirminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLimited edition MiiR x Barista Exchange All Day Cup - 32oz stainless steel straw cup. Supports the Cxffeeblack Barista Exchange Program. Product partnership with portion supporting cultural exchange initiatives.
• AirgoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution partnership for streamlined wholesale experience. Flexible payment terms, streamlined shipping, credits for first-time buyers. Sydni the roaster handles wholesale inquiries directly.
• Sookoo Coffee (Ture Waji)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEthiopian farm of Ture Waji, known as King of Guji. Primary source for OG Guji Mane and Guji Gold Reserve. Direct trade relationship in the all-Black supply chain from Ethiopia to Memphis.
• Solai Coffee (Kuria Family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-generational African-owned Kenyan importing company. Stephen & Margaret Kuria source from their own and neighbors' farms. First met at Color of Coffee Collective gathering. Source for Fatherland and 8 Ball blend.
• Higa Coffee (Rwanda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRwanda coffee family source for Fruit of Our Labor. $1 from every bag supports Elevate Through Coffee Initiative in Rwanda for education and opportunity.
• Black Star Line FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with West African coffee entrepreneurs at the Black Star Line Festival for community and cultural programming.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BLK & Bold Specialty Coffee: Black-owned specialty coffee company founded in 2018 with a strong social mission (donates 5% of profits to youth programs). Sells tea, coffee, and K-cups via DTC and wholesale. Directly comparable to Cxffeeblack in mission-driven positioning, Black ownership, and DTC-led model, though at greater scale.
• Red Bay Coffee: Black-owned specialty coffee roaster based in Oakland, CA, founded by Keba Konte. Focused on equitable supply chains, single-origin coffees, and a café footprint. Closest direct peer to Cxffeeblack in terms of Black-owned specialty coffee mission, supply chain storytelling, and café + wholesale hybrid model.
• Sip & Sonder: Black-woman-owned coffee shop and creative studio in Inglewood, CA. Combines specialty coffee with cultural programming and community events. Comparable to the Anti Gentrification Coffee Club concept of café-as-cultural-hub for Black communities.

Emerging players

• Onyx Coffee Lab: Specialty coffee roaster with strong competition pedigree, focus on direct trade, and a passionate community of specialty coffee enthusiasts. Comparable to Cxffeeblack in single-origin specialty focus and premium DTC positioning, though without the explicit Black-ownership supply chain story.
• Manifesto Coffee Roasters: Black-owned specialty coffee roaster in Kansas City focused on community, quality, and equity. Comparable to Cxffeeblack in mission-driven Black-owned specialty roasting and café model, with similar scale and headcount.

Broad incumbents

• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster founded in 1995 with deep sustainability and direct-trade focus. Comparable to Cxffeeblack as a specialty coffee roaster with public sustainability commitments and wholesale penetration, though at significantly greater scale and without the Black supply chain mission.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Heritage specialty coffee roaster and canned cold brew producer (owned by Peet's/LAVA). Comparable to Cxffeeblack in both specialty roasting and canned cold brew (Gold Brew vs. Stumptown Cold Brew), though at vastly greater scale and as a fully acquired brand.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty coffee roaster and café chain (owned by Nestlé). Comparable for its premium single-origin DTC, subscription model, and quality-first positioning; relevant as a benchmark for what Cxffeeblack's premium coffee brand could scale toward and as a competing canned cold brew player.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster best known for Draft Latte canned RTD coffee. The most direct competitor to Cxffeeblack's Gold Brew in the canned cold brew/RTD coffee category, with a large grocery distribution footprint that Cxffeeblack would need to match for enterprise value.

Others

• Partida Tequila / Color of Coffee Collective: Network of Black coffee professionals and resources in the specialty coffee industry. Cxffeeblack's Solai Coffee (Kuria Family) connection originated at a Color of Coffee Collective gathering. Comparable as a peer organization in the Black specialty coffee ecosystem, though not a direct commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cxffeeblack
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Cxffeeblack
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cxffeeblack-100063781671573
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cxffeeblack
• Instagraminstagram.com/cxffeeblack

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Cxffeeblack