HOUSTON, TX – April 26, 2025 – On Saturday evening during the Specialty Coffee Association Expo 2025, CCRE welcomed guests to The First Sip!, held at Chapman & Kirby in Houston’s vibrant East Downtown. The event created a lively and welcoming space for networking, inspiration, and reflection, while honoring those who are reshaping the coffee industry’s future.The evening’s highlight was The First Sip! Awards presentation, given to individuals and organizations who embody leadership, creativity, and service:
- Klatch Coffee Announces Upcoming Education And Learning Schedule
- Passenger Coffee Releases Their Third Annual Transparence Report With Proceeds Benefitting World Coffee Research
- Big Flavors, Bold Innovations: Campbell’s Foodservice Showcases Culinary Reserve, Cape Cod & Kettle Brand Chips, Goldfish, & Barista Series At NRA 2025
- The Crown Announces Second Annual “Development Stage,” A Multi-day Coffee Symposium
- Onyx Coffee Lab Introduces Barista Provisions: Craft-Quality Beverage Powders For Any Setting
- Klatch Coffee Introduces Ready-To-Go Cold Brew
2025 First Sip Honorees
Excellence in Coffee Leadership: BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages
Co-founders Rod Johnson and Pernell Cezar were honored with the Excellence in Coffee Leadership Award for their remarkable impact on the industry. BLK & Bold is the first Black-owned, nationally distributed coffee brand in the U.S. Now available in over 11,000 retail locations, and through partnerships with the NBA, Marvel, and Ben & Jerry’s, the company continues to set a powerful example of a purpose-driven business. They donate 5% of profits to support underserved youth nationwide and are also a certified B Corporation. To learn more about BLK & Bold’s inspiring journey and social impact initiatives, please visit blkandbold.com.
Local Hero: Keith Hawkins, The Color of Coffee Collective
Houston native Keith Hawkins, founder of The Color of Coffee Collective, has spent over two decades advocating for diversity and opportunity within the coffee industry. His leadership is driving change by bringing people together through community engagement, education, and partnerships. Keith is helping to change the future of coffee by making it more inclusive, more connected, and more reflective of the communities it serves. To learn more about his work in empowering communities, visit colorofcoffeecollective.com.
Emerging Voices in Coffee: Martel Mason, Sepia Coffee Project
As the founder of Sepia Coffee Project, Martell Mason is emerging as a powerful voice for his community, working to build a more inclusive coffee culture in Metro Detroit. Through his efforts, he’s making specialty coffee accessible to underserved neighborhoods and uplifting new stories and perspectives through coffee. For Martell, the work is not just about coffee. It’s about creating a space where everyone can be seen and heard. To discover how he’s shaping a more inclusive coffee culture, visit sepiacoffeeproject.com
The celebration also featured remarks from Michelle Maisto, Head of Marketing at Neumann Gruppe USA, who spoke about the importance of unity and continued advocacy, as well as an inspiring announcement from CCRE’s founder, Phyllis Johnson, regarding the launch of an upcoming Leadership Development Program.
Words from the Founder
“The First Sip! is a celebration of vision, courage, and collaboration. We gather to lift each other up, recognize those who are making a difference, and inspire new possibilities for our industry.”
— Phyllis Johnson, Founder and President, Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity
The First Sip! Included tapas, cocktails, music by a live DJ, a photo booth by Flashbar Photo Booth, and event photography by MiluPhotos, creating a memorable evening for all in attendance.
With Gratitude to Our Donors
CCRE is deeply grateful for the generous support from our donors. This event was made possible by contributions from the following supporters, listed by giving tier:
Strong Black Coffee: Margaret Swallow and Neumann Gruppe USA
Coffee Couture: Starbucks
Brewing for Equity: Coffee By Design, Deans Beans, Diligent Green, and Little Waves Coffee Roasters
Community Champions: Andi Trindle Mersch, BD Imports, Blink Action, Coffee Emporium, Kahawa 1893, Patrick Johnson/Salesforce, RGC Coffee
About Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity (CCRE)
Founded in 2020, CCRE is committed to empowering Black professionals and entrepreneurs, expanding access to education and mentorship, and building a more inclusive coffee industry at every level. Through events, advocacy, and leadership programs, CCRE is fostering new pathways to opportunity and recognition in coffee.
Support CCRE’s Mission
Whether or not you attended The First Sip, there are still opportunities to support the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity and its ongoing initiatives. Contributions of any amount help fuel programs like the upcoming Leadership Development Program and strengthen efforts to create a more inclusive coffee industry. To make a donation, visit pledge.to/the-first-sip. To learn more about CCRE’s work and how you can get involved, please visit www.coffeeforequity.org.
For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact media@coffeeforequity.org. For more information about CCRE and “The First Sip,” please follow us on social media @coffeeforequity and visit our website at www.coffeeforequity.org.
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