Culture in a Cup: How Traveling Inspired My Big Business Idea

“Salaam alykum.”?

The warm greeting landed softly on my heart as I inhaled the equally warm Moroccan air. Everywhere I turned, a new color, scent, and smile welcomed me, an African American who was setting foot in Africa for the first time. Famously hospitable, locals were quick to say hello and ask how I was doing. I drank it all in eagerly and instantly felt at home.

Hearing everything from Arabic (Morocco’s official language), to Darija (the local Moroccan dialect) to French, I knew I wanted to live in a world that celebrated cultural differences. Moreover, I wanted to contribute to that world. I wanted to offer something that could connect people across race and socioeconomic barriers while also honoring our varied histories.

Much like in Europe and lazy Sundays in America, Moroccans will often gather for hours over coffee, sharing stories and connecting over lived experiences. I first discovered coffee’s power to connect in my childhood home, where my parents would let my sister and I sneak heady sips from the warm mugs in their hands. Later, as we began to travel more and more, I learned about coffee’s rich African roots and its subsequent colonization.?

I knew there was a way to share coffee’s story that could unite us across cultures. Relaxing on a comfy sofa and talking openly about all of the things we haven’t figured out yet as we sip a perfectly prepared dark roast… Was there a more wonderful way to bond??

It’s why my sister and I decided to start Uncharted Coffee: to bring those warm Moroccan smiles, rich roots, and genuineness to any doorstep that might welcome them. I’m excited to continue to explore Africa, particularly Ethiopia (the birthplace of our species and coffee!), and drink deeply from our interconnected roots.

Have you ever traveled somewhere that felt instantly like home?