Across the country, Black-owned coffee shops and cafes are rewriting the rules of casual coffee culture, transforming it into something substantially more uplifting. Coffee parties that offer soulful DJ sets, serve up curated menus of specialty drinks and bites, and foster community connection are fueling a growing movement.
These events are introducing a new kind of weekend ritual—one filled with collective joy, and all taking place before the sun goes down.
Bringing a Coffee Party to Life
When Anthony and Doralee “Dora” Montague purchased Condesa Coffee from its previous owners in 2022, they saw a huge opportunity to grow a business that already had strong roots in Atlanta, Georgia.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the dynamic husband-wife duo and serial entrepreneurs have been Atlanta residents for over 17 years. Over this time, they’ve had numerous ventures in the real estate, nonprofit, and food and beverage industries,
“We tend to focus on purchasing cash-flowing businesses that have some gaps that we can fill and that will allow us to put our touch on it to take it to the next level.” Anthony shares.
With three years of ownership under their belts, the couple is committed to evolving the Condesa brand, sharing that their vision of a coffee party is just one of many ways they’ve sought to accomplish this goal.
While Anthony would love to say this idea was dreamt up between him and Dora, he admits he can’t take credit. “During my travels for work, I noticed a growing trend of coffee shops hosting DJ sets. I saw what it was creating for the community and thought it would be a great idea to bring back to Condesa.”
He eagerly shared his discoveries with Dora, who leads strategy and operations for their cafe, and she was more than sold on the idea. Around this time, almost serendipitously, a DJ who had booked their space for a birthday party stopped by Condesa and through conversation, they were able to form a partnership that helped put plans for their first coffee party into motion.
From the beginning, the free event planned in conjunction with the DJ collective, Third Space Vibes and Peerspace (an online platform for discovering unique spaces to plan events) attracted fans who instantly fell in love with the concept. A concept that came together with no detail missed, due in part to Dora’s tenacious planning.
“We are very intentional about everything [with the event] from the type of music, to our menu, to what we want to highlight.” Dora continues, “We want to make sure we are pairing everything well and may target specific menu items, including sandwiches, vegan pastries, and specialty drinks…matcha has been really popular at these events.”
From a neo soul themed experience aptly titled “Sip and Soul” to a larger event on their outdoor patio in early May, Condesa’s coffee parties are continuing to gain steam. “The response we got from the first video we posted on social media was very positive. Our post received 20,000 views, 67 hours of play time, 1,700 likes, 830 saves, and 530 shares,” Anthony says, recalling the strong reception of their first coffee party.
He continues, “The biggest thing for us is that this is a free event on a Sunday after you’ve had a long week. It’s about creating a gathering spot and a celebration of community. You just add in music, coffee, and good people, and that’s the vibe.”
By Geo Banks-Weston
