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Raleigh, NC, North Carolina · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

321 Coffee

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for 321 Coffee; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Limited public info
Tags321 CoffeeNorth Carolina coffee roastersIndependentRoasts in-house
Visit 321 Coffee's site

321 Coffee is a mission-driven specialty coffee roaster and cafe based in Raleigh, North Carolina, that centers its business model on providing meaningful employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By integrating inclusive practices into every stage of production—from roasting to service—the company aims to demonstrate the value of an inclusive workforce. The brand operates multiple retail locations and provides wholesale coffee services to various corporate partners.

Ownership
321 Coffee is an independent, co-founded business established by Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans. It is majoritively owned by women, though it does not currently hold a formal woman-owned business certification.
Founded
2017
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
321 Coffee is widely recognized as a social enterprise dedicated to disability inclusion, specifically employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across its roastery and cafe operations. The brand is named after the 3 copies of the 21st chromosome associated with Down syndrome.
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources specialty-grade coffee through partnerships with importers such as Cafe Imports and Ally Coffee. While they emphasize ethical relationships and sustainability, they do not publicly list specific farm or producer names for their current coffee offerings on their website.
Notable coffees
  • — Elevate (Medium Roast)
  • — Uplift (Dark Roast)
  • — Rise (Light Roast)
  • — Stride (Decaf)
  • — NC State - Greater Good (Medium Roast)
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about 321 Coffee, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2026-09-05 · Keys to the Shop
624: Founder Friday! w/ Lindsay Wredge of 321 Coffee in Raleigh, NC

In this podcast episode, co-founder Lindsay Wrege discusses the origins of 321 Coffee and the company's commitment to inclusive employment. The conversation highlights the brand's growth from a mobile coffee cart to a multi-location roastery employing over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

2026-07-31 · 6AM City
321 Coffee opens in-office for Hitachi Energy

321 Coffee has expanded its corporate partnership program by opening a private in-office cafe at Hitachi Energy's North American headquarters in Raleigh. This move continues the company's mission of providing inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

2026-01-28 · Daily Coffee News
321 Coffee Gets Three Times More Capacity at New Raleigh Roastery

321 Coffee relocated its roasting operations to a larger facility, tripling its production capacity to meet rising wholesale demand. The new space incorporates accessible equipment and workflows designed to support the company's inclusive hiring model.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-11-04. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand emphasizes ethical sourcing and partnerships with importers, it does not publish a list of specific sourcing countries or individual farm names for its current coffee lineup.

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