We create meaningful work opportunities for people with disabilities.
80% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are unemployed. We are changing that.
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, we have built a team of over 60 people across our roastery, coffee shops, and mobile coffee cart. From roasting beans to making lattes, people with disabilities are involved in every step of the process. Together, we're serving great coffee, creating meaningful jobs, and building an inclusive future.
We're on a mission to create 1,000,000 meaningful work hours for our team.
It starts with coffee
But it definitely doesn't end there. We believe that something as simple as a cup of coffee has the power to create a ripple effect far beyond the walls of our cafes that will ultimately transform employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
We know it's a tall order for a cup of coffee. But we’re already seeing coffee break down barriers, create space for genuine relationships, and open new doors for more connected, inclusive, and vibrant communities.
The ripple effect
The ripple effect begins with baristas and roasters like Drey, Sophie, and Aaron as they gain a sense of purpose, independence, and confidence from meaningful work that serves as a key to open doors to growth far beyond the workplace.
Since joining 321 Coffee, Drey became a full-time student at NC State University, Sophie married another barista she met on our team, and Aaron moved into his own apartment where he can walk to work each day in Downtown Raleigh.
Shifting perspectives
As guests interact with our team, their assumptions about disability begin to change. Instead of limitations, guests see successful employees, loving partners, ambitious students, and joyful friends all making valuable contributions to their community.
Those everyday interactions challenge assumptions, shift perspectives, and help peoeple reimagine what's possible in a world designed for belonging and inclusion.
So that's why we do what we do. We believe that coffee can change who's included in our communities.
And we believe that when a lot of people make a little change, it can make a big impact.
When you order a bag of coffee, send a gift box collection, or book a 321 Coffee Cart event, it has a real impact on real people.
141,875
meaningful work hours created!
And we're just getting started! Join us in our mission to create 1,000,000 meaningful work hours for our team of people with disabilities.
