Skip to content
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
    • Black Wineries
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
  • Events
  • Black Wineries
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
    • Black Wineries
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
  • Events
  • Black Wineries
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate

Red Bay Coffee Brings Power Back to the People

Pictured: Kebe Konte | Photo credit: V. Sheree Williams
October 17, 2016
V. Sheree Williams
Share this article
       

Coffee to Keba Konte is more than a carefully brewed drink with notes and aromas.  It is a vehicle for economic change. The San Francisco native founded Red Bay Coffee in 2014 in Oakland after years of perfecting his barista skills that he first started to hone in on while running his first eatery, the Guerilla Café, in North Berkeley.

Known international for his work as a visual artist, Konte is no stranger to using artistic platforms to raise consciousness about community and political issues. With Red Bay Coffee, the vision is to inspire the next generation of coffee brewers and baristas by creating a business model that allows all employees to share the profits as well as decide how to invest in the growth of the business.  “We will be creating jobs with dignity and great coffee,” says Konte.  In addition, Red Bay Coffee is about changing the face of the coffee industry through its level of inclusion and diversity that you won’t see in most coffee shops.

Coffee as Another From of Art

His entry into the coffee world was not intentional or planned.  A graduate of San Francisco State University, he studied photojournalism and later set off globetrotting around the world documenting such events as the election of Nelson Mandela in South Africa.  Stops along the way throughout Europe, Cuba, and Japan would develop another cultural lens that later would be expressed through his artwork seen at the California African American Museum, the Smithsonian Institute in D.C. and the Retina Galerie in Amsterdam as well as back home in the Bay Area.

Kebe Konte, owner of Red Bay Coffee
Pictured: Keba Konte | Photo credit: V. Sheree Wiliams

With the initial goal of having a place to showcase his work, he co-founded the Guerilla Café that was known for its cool Afro-centric vibe and Guerilla waffles.  “I had one or two exhibits, but I got really fascinated with these waffles and the coffee. I had this audience and they loved the waffles and I was like well what do I do next so I kind of tweaked the recipe playing with the flours, playing with the fruits, playing with the seasonal stuff.  We were kiddie corner to Chez Panisse so of course, you are learning about seasonality,” says Konte.

A trusted friend turned him on to Blue Bottle Coffee, an industry innovator, and after a persistent pursuit, Guerilla Café would be the first to carry the brand.  Soon a skilled barista, Konte started training others while developing a bigger interest in coffee which led to learning more about production from seed to cup.  He began watching YouTube videos and would also spend time with an Ethiopian restaurateur named Mimi as she made coffee in the back of her restaurant.  He would later set up a coffee lab in his garage with a small roaster and started creating roasting recipes that varied by the amount of heat, length of time and amount of air.  The three variables together produce the profiles of the coffee beans that create a great cup of coffee.  An intensive coffee boot camp would be one of the last stops on his journey of mastering coffee roasting.

  • Grace Hightower De Niro: Capturing the Spirit of Rwanda Through CoffeeGrace Hightower & Coffees of Rwanda
  • Wosene Kosrof and the Fine Art of Ethiopia’s Coffee Culture and CuisineWosene Kosrof

Deep into the world of coffee, Konte had an opportunity to open a second eatery at City College in San Francisco which he named Chasing Lions Café in 2012.  This location would be one of the first to test what would be later be known as Red Bay Coffee two years later.

Bringing Beautiful Coffee to the People

Now officially launched, Konte’s mission with Red Bay Coffee is to bring “beautiful coffee to the people” as the motto notes under the logo which includes selections such as Umoja (Africa), Pretty Penny (Central America), Ocho Libre (Decaf) and King’s Prize (Africa). The coffee with a purpose can be found in the offices of Bay Area companies such as Uber and Twitter as well as at local restaurants and cafes.

Kebe Konte and team at Red Bay Coffee in Oakland, CA
Pictured: Keba Konte with Red Bay Coffee team members | Photo credit: V. Sheree Williams

Last year, Konte and the team moved into a warehouse that will be built out to not only be the company’s headquarters but a social spot where one can stop by for a meticulous cup of coffee while enjoying a cool atmosphere vibe. Transparency will be key as you watch the roasters in action as well as those checking for quality.   In addition, Konte envisions the location to be an international training ground for future roasters from all over the world.

With creativity always at the forefront, Konte says they are working on some new products to extend the brand that include a coffee soda and kombucha.

  • Buy Black Coffee Goes Worldwide: 5 Coffee Shops to Visit During Your Travels
  • Deaf Can! Coffee Changes Lives, One Bean at a TimeBaristas of Deaf Can! Coffee

A visionary with a heart for seeing prosperity among people, especially among people of color, Konte is more than optimistic about the future of Red Bay Coffee. “It is going to be global and it is going to be really big and we are just getting started.”

For more information about Red Bay Coffee, jobs and to purchase, visit www.redbaycoffee.com.   To inquire about carrying the brand in your establishment or workplace, visit the contact us page.

  • under Etiquette Etiquette in Public Places
  • Aiyana Victoria Mathews in Japan
    under Travel Tips for African American Travelers in Japan
  • under Food & Drink Saluting the Vinous Odyssey of Zimbabwean Wine Whiz Job Jovo
  • under Food & Drink Biology and Science are Put to the Test with Twins That Cook
Share this article
V. Sheree Williams

Sheree has been penning stories since the fifth grade. Her stories took a delicious and adventurous turn as an adult when she became a foodie.

Related Articles

Loading...
Featured Food & Drink

Legendary Football Star Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders Joins Oikos® for an Epic Family Battle

2023 James Beard
Black Chefs Food & Drink

2023 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Semi-Finalists Announced

Haitian chef Findler Charles
Black Chefs Food & Drink

Haitian Pride and Island Flavors Drive Success for Food Truck Owner Findler Charles

Be the first to know about the latest online, industry updates, world news, events and promotions that connect the African diaspora through food, drink and travel.

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising

    #IAmCuisineNoir

    This site participates in affiliate programs. See our full disclosure for more information.

    © 2022 The Global Food and Drink Initiative d/b/a Cuisine Noir Magazine. Privacy
    Site by ACS Digital

    Any unauthorized duplication, download or reprint of images or content from this website for promotional or commercial use is strictly prohibited without written permission from The Global Food and Drink Initiative. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Trademark pending.

    YES!  We’re excited you are signing up too!  

    Get ready to receive our weekly newsletter about:

    • New articles online
    • World news and industry happenings throughout the African Diaspora
    • Mouthwatering recipes
    • Promotions and giveaways

    Right in your inbox!