Updated Open Letter to the US Coffee Industry
Dear US Coffee Professionals,
The Open Letter to the US Coffee Industry on Racism, written in 2020, was an invitation for engagement that served its purpose in framing a longstanding yet unacknowledged challenge. Systemic Racism continues to limit participation and opportunity within our industry. This lack of participation and opportunities leaves us lacking in the creativity and ingenuity that diversity brings.
Building the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity was our major step together. Over the past years, we’ve built not only awareness but opportunities for a more sustainable and inclusive industry. We’ve had setbacks and triumphs in this work, all that comes with building an organization that carries a bold mission. We’ve not given up but found more passion, opportunities, and alignment through partnerships.
What we learned is that even in intense dark moments, good can and often does happen. The challenge of racism persists. In 2026, we face yet another intense and dark moment with a direct assault on people of color. The coffee-growing regions that once stood as our reliable, longstanding, close neighbors and partners became estranged overnight due to tariffs.
Building a more inclusive coffee industry remains our target and I am proud of the accomplishments to date:
We’ve helped to advance opportunities for employment in partnership with the NKG(PACE) program.
We created networking opportunities and recognition through awards at our annual event, the First Sip.
We are deepening the knowledge and capacity of diverse coffee professionals through our Brewing for Equity Fellowship Program.
We set out to not only ignite but to engage the industry, and thanks to the efforts of the CCRE Board, volunteers, and support, we are making progress. What is clear to me is that the value that our vision holds is the reward for the global coffee industry.
We continue to need your support; it is unfinished work that we started together. I ask that you remain committed and not be dismayed. In 2020, the open letter closed with an invitation to engage in the work. Again, I invite you to stay engaged in whatever capacity that best suits you or your company. Look for opportunities in both your personal and professional life to make a difference on this challenge of racial inequity.
We are the ones who can be a force in building a sustainable and inclusive coffee industry.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Johnson
President, BD Imports / Founder Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity: info@coffeeforequity
