Who We Are
The Color of Coffee Collective was born from a simple but radical idea: that the specialty coffee industry — one of the most vibrant, global, and economically powerful industries in the world — should be accessible to everyone who wants to be part of it.
Founder and CEO Keith Hawkins built this organization because he lived the gap firsthand. Coffee is the second most traded global commodity after oil and gas, yet the pathways into its professional culture have long been expensive, opaque, and designed for people who already have access. Keith's vision was to change that — to create clear, affordable, and welcoming entry points for people who look like him, come from communities like his, and have just as much to contribute to this industry's future.
What started as a mission to open doors for underserved youth has grown into something larger: a collective that serves everyone the industry has historically left behind.
Both Sides of the Cup
The Color of Coffee Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit closing the opportunity gap in one of the world's most valuable industries. Coffee is the second most traded global commodity — yet the communities that grow, harvest, and serve it remain largely excluded from its economic opportunity and culture of expertise.
We change that through accessible, high-quality coffee education. We work on both sides of the cup. For those entering the industry: skills, mentorship, and career pathways. For everyone else: coffee education that connects consumers to the full human story behind what's in their mug.For youth and young adults from underserved communities, we provide hands-on training, mentorship, and pathways into careers they didn't know were available to them. For consumers and industry professionals alike, we build coffee literacy that deepens connection to the full story behind every cup.
Our Programs
Through three programs — Coffee Camp, Coffee, Cameras & Community, and Coffee For All — we meet people where they are.
Coffee Camp brings immersive, hands-on specialty coffee education to youth and young adults from underserved communities, equipping them with real skills and career pathways over eight weeks. Coffee, Cameras & Community bridges the photography and coffee worlds, shining a light on the role of third spaces and coffee shops in the fabric of our communities. And Coffee For All takes our education on the road — traveling to cities across the country to bring specialty coffee programming, networking, and resources directly to the communities that deserve access to it just as much as anyone else.
Our Impact
Since our founding, 100% of the youth we've served come from underserved communities. 95% had never encountered specialty coffee before walking through our doors. We're not just filling seats in a classroom. We're expanding who gets to shape the future of this industry — and we're just getting started.
Founder's Note
"I founded The Color of Coffee Collective to break down barriers and create clear, accessible pathways for minority communities to thrive in this global industry. My vision was to make specialty coffee education affordable and transparent, so that young men and women who look like me can not only enter the field but experience the financial security, pride, and joy that come with being a part of it. Coffee is universal — it fuels our mornings, sparks conversations, and connects us across cultures. I believe it can also be a catalyst for transformative, inclusive change."
— Keith Hawkins, Founder & CEO
Our Team
MsTrena Byas
Administrative Assistant
Mstrena@colorofcoffeecollective.com
Michael McGee Jr.
Director of Education
Michael@colorofcoffeecollective.com
Erica Petropoulos-Justice
Director of Community & Marketing
Erica@colorofcoffeecollective.com
Dee Rosa
Creative Director
Dee@colorofcoffeecollective.com
Our Partners
Be Part of This
The Color of Coffee Collective runs on community. Every program we deliver, every student we train, every city we bring Coffee For All to — it's made possible by people who believe this industry is better when everyone has a seat at the table.
If that's you, we'd love to have you with us.