In the final installment of this article series, we showcase three more coffee shops uplifting local artists.
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
ONLINE EDITOR
Featured photo courtesy of Jebale Coffee
In parts one and two of this article series, we introduced a handful of cafés showcasing local artists in order to build community, boost business, and forge meaningful connections between fellow creators. This is the third and final installment of the series—read on to learn more about U.S.-based coffeehouses Jebale Coffee, Cedar Beans Coffee Joint, and Café Noir.
Jebale Coffee
Vancouver, Wash.’s Jebale Coffee is a family-run roastery that serves coffee out of their café, The Portal. Apart from offering coffee, the shop also works to empower local creators, regularly hosting art exhibitions, artist talks, and musical events.
“(This past November), we had an art showing for Ebony Carter, featuring her series called ‘Pep Talk.’ (Ebony) is a multimedia artist, author, and illustrator, and a beautiful person,” Evangel M. of Jebale Coffee writes to Barista Magazine Online. Over the holiday season, the coffeehouse also hosted a holiday market with art vendors from around the greater Portland area.
Apart from their work to uplift local creators, Jebale is also dedicated to empowering the farmers they source from. “We work as closely as we can with the farmers. In many cases, we have close personal relationships with our key farmer partners In Uganda,“ Evangel says. “We always purchase direct from the farmers at fair price, above market pricing, to help them provide for their families sustainably.“
Cedar Beans Coffee Joint
Voted one of New Jersey’s top coffee shops for 2023-2024, Cedar Beans doubles as a coffee shop and a monthly gallery for local artists and musicians.
“We’re proud to serve more than just coffee—we serve as a stage for local talent. Our cozy, rustic space (provides the perfect) platform to showcase the creativity that thrives in Northern New Jersey,” the café team writes to Barista Magazine.
The coffeehouse shares how their community art events serve a larger purpose, rooted in their mission to support younger generations of creatives. “The artists (we showcase) also kindly donate a percentage of their sales back to Cedar Beans for the Cedar Beans Art Scholarship Fund, to be given to a local high school student every year,“ the team writes.
Café Noir
Detroit’s Café Noir recently launched a rotating art showcase featuring local talent and also runs an art gallery next door to its café called Chloe Monroe Galleries. Notably, the café/art gallery hosted an exhibition this past November called Valiant: a dual exhibit by artists Miriam Uhura and Jonathan Kimble.
“We’re proud to regularly host artist talks and aim to create a welcoming space where artists and art lovers alike can connect and thrive,” the café team writes to Barista Magazine Online. “Both the café and gallery are curated by Nas C. Sorrel, a highly regarded figure in Detroit’s art community.”
Why It Matters
Everyday, more establishments within the coffee industry are making moves to empower local creators of all kinds. The café is a natural space for creative expression and connection, and we have endless gratitude for the countless café leaders providing safe spaces for artists to gather.
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