December Newsletter
December Newsletter
December Newsletter
As Esteamed Coffee celebrates five years of community, inclusion, and meaningful employment, we can’t help but look back on the day it all began: December 17th, 2020. The world was still masked and uncertain, but inside our little shop, something extraordinary was taking shape.
Co-founder Tamara Lapsley remembers those final weeks before opening as a whirlwind: “With 3.5 weeks of training and 1.5 weeks of ‘soft opening’ practice, I felt like we (Staff, Managers, and Co-Founders) went into opening day as prepared as we could be. It was all hands on deck! We were all a bit anxious - we didn't know whether to expect lots of customers or just a few. To our surprise, opening day seemed very busy! The staff gave it their all and worked hard to fill all orders accurately with a smile! Mistakes were made, but we all learned from them! A sigh of relief was let out when we flipped the ‘Closed’ sign at the end of the day - we had survived!”
For co-founder Angie Hudson, that same day carried the weight of years of unseen work. “For me, opening day was a highly anticipated culmination of three years of invisible hard work . . . on that Thursday, December 17, 2020, still in the midst of the pandemic with our masks on, I saw the line forming twenty customers deep out the front door and down the Academy Street sidewalk. I paused for only a second to feel what was happening. I took one photo from inside our front windows and felt joy throughout my whole being.
"As a person with a disability and no prior business experience, I can say that the dream came from turning my pain of being legally blind into something that was both positive and taking the focus off of myself and trying to help others. Opening day was one of the best days of my life. I am incredibly grateful to our team, our staff’s families, our community, our customers, our vendors, and our supporters for coming together to launch and sustain Esteamed Coffee since that day five years ago!”
Five years later, that sense of joy, inclusion, and determination still defines who we are. What began with nervous anticipation (not to mention a line down the sidewalk) has grown into a thriving community where people of all abilities are valued, supported, and celebrated. We are especially grateful to our founders, Angie and Tamara, whose vision and courage created the foundation we continue to build on today.
Thank you all for helping us make it to this milestone. We can't wait to celebrate the next five years together!
This holiday season, shop inclusive with Esteamed Coffee! Here are some ways you can support our mission while finding that perfect present.
Did you know that almost all of our merchandise has been made by adults with disabilities? From Esteamed logo gear printed by local organization TheGDay to dog treats from The Arc of Greensboro, you'll be sure to find a meaningful gift.
Stop by the cafe this month and you'll find paintings, calendars, soaps, gourd ornaments, serving platters, notecards, jewelry cases and more - all made by adults with disabilities from North Carolina! Our Local Art program provides a platform and a commission for artists to sell their work in the shop, making every present truly a win-win.
Several times a year, our talented Esteamed employees create their own merchandise with inspirational quotes and images; we call these items EsTEAMers! The full proceeds of our EsTEAMers products go back to the staff as a bonus twice a year, thanks to the support of a Cary Art Daze grant. Come choose from a selection of stickers, shirts, ornaments, notebooks, keychains, and even our new Cook-ability cookbook!
Not sure what to get your Esteamed fan? Let them choose for themselves! You can purchase a gift card at the cafe or send one via email, and they can use it for drinks, clothing, art, and more whenever they'd like.
If you want our coffee delivered straight to your loved one's door, you're in luck. Check out our online store, where you can choose from regular or decaf coffee and have it ground (or not) and sent anywhere in the United States! You can even set up a recurring subscription so they never run out of their favorite beans!
Our team recently released their first-ever cookbook, Cook-ability, a project inspired by the sense of community and hands-on skills they’ve developed at the cafe. Those skills truly shone when several staff members were invited to bake in a real commercial kitchen through a partnership with Once in a Blue Moon Bakery!
For many, this was an experience they may never have had without the training and support they receive at Esteamed Coffee. Working together, they prepared two full dishes in this professional space then proudly served them to guests during our cookbook launch celebration. Seeing their confidence as they presented what they had made was a beautiful reminder of what happens when individuals are given the chance to grow, learn, and shine.
The Cook-ability cookbook is now available for purchase at the cafe, with 100% of the proceeds supporting our team through the EsTEAMers program. Moments like this one showcase why our mission matters, and how your support helps create opportunities that truly transform lives.
Your donation helps Esteamed Coffee's staff and all people with disabilities have a place where belonging meets community.