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  About US

Esteamed Coffee exists to connect employees with various disabilities and our community at large, in such a way that the lives of all are enriched through their fellowship in a warm, welcoming environment.

OUR Mission

Coffee FOR A Cause

We are not just a coffee shop. We are a community on a mission to lower the 70+% unemployment rate for people with disabilities by creating meaningful job opportunities for people with intellectual, developmental, communication and/or visual impairments in a warm supportive environment.

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Esteamed Coffee is located in a newly renovated 1940 cottage at 114 S. Academy Street, Cary, NC 27511. The bright and airy cottage has a small conference room with barn doors, a banquette area, and a beautiful bar overlooking Academy Street. The outdoor patio is newly landscaped and it offers a quaint, comfortable area of tables where our four legged friends on leashes are also welcome!

OUR space

Barista Molly serving coffee
Ryan making a smoothie
Co-founder Angie Hudson
Angie HUDSON
   CO-FOUNDER

"When I was 18 and beginning college at UNC, I started losing my vision; by age 21, I had to stop driving due to my vision loss. That was almost 30 years ago. I know firsthand what it is like to live with a disability and how challenging it can be. Even though each individual has different obstacles they face, all those living with a disability have 3 general areas of life that are impacted: obtaining employment, adapting to a job, and social engagement. Esteamed Coffee’s mission is to address each of these obstacles by providing job coaching and a supportive/encouraging environment where the employees and patrons feel they are part of a warm, welcoming community. "

Tamara LAPSLEY
CO-FOUNDER 

"Since graduating from UNC in 1984 with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, I have worked with individuals of all ages with speech-language disorders and have always loved helping people.  However, communication deficits hit close to home eight years ago when Angie and I had a dear friend whose healthy, athletic 18 year old son suffered a massive stroke. Austin  initially lost the ability to communicate as well as use of his right hand and leg.  While walking through this crisis with Austin’s family, I became acquainted with a new concept that Maura Silverman of Triangle Aphasia Project, Unlimited (TAP) was piloting called a Communication Support Team.  Through volunteering with TAP on Austin’s Communication Support Team, I have seen the significant impact that this type of Life Participation therapy can have on an individual’s communication improvement as well as the impact it can have on their family.  And the thought occurred to me, why can’t this type of therapy be extended to the individual’s work environment as well?"

Co-founder Tamara
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Julie WALKER
   EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Meet THE team

Meet the Team
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REBECCA

Manager

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MORGAN

Assistant Manager

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ANDREW

Shift Manager

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MOLLY

Barista

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SETH

Cashier

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JACK

Cashier

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RYAN

Barista

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MARISA

Barista

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CHANDLER

Cashier

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KATHY

Barista

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MICHAEL

Floor Manager

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ALISSA

Barista

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AUSTIN

Cashier

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LADD

Cashier

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EMILY

Cold Barista

Meet THE Board

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TAMARA LAPSLEY

Director

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ANGIE HUDSON

Director

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KIRBY BARBOUR

Board Chair

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MARY
MADENSPACHER

Board Secretary

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RICK
CARNAGUA

Board Treasurer

OUR  story

Timeline
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2019

Our Board of Directors (Christy Teague, Angie Hudson, Tamara Lapsley, Maura Silverman) at the Charity Distance Festival 5k Race!

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