INNER CITY COFFEE EXCHANGE TAKES BOLD STEP FORWARD. Luke 9:62. Coffee Allo Collective Trains at Texas A&M — Bridging Global Coffee Expertise to Inner-City Opportunity

 

INNER CITY COFFEE EXCHANGE TAKES BOLD STEP FORWARD. Luke 9:62. Coffee Allo Collective Trains at Texas A&M — Bridging Global Coffee Expertise to Inner-City Opportunity

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — In a decisive step toward transforming communities from the inside out, the Inner City Coffee Exchange (ICCE) and its Coffee Allo Cooperative traveled to Texas A&M University for an immersive, hands-on training experience at the globally respected Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture Center for Coffee Research and Education.

This was more than a visit. This was vision becoming visible.

A team of emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and community builders entered one of the nation’s most advanced coffee research environments—not simply to learn the craft, but to unlock economic pathways capable of reshaping inner-city futures.

From the Inner City to the Global Stage

The Coffee Allo Cooperative was built on a bold and unapologetic mission:

to create jobs, cultivate ownership, and generate sustainable income streams in underserved communities through specialty coffee.

In neighborhoods too often defined by limitations, ICCE is redefining possibility—transforming coffee from a daily routine into a tool for dignity, discipline, and economic development.

And in College Station, that mission moved from concept to clarity.

Where Vision Meets Global Leadership

The day began with a strategic meeting with Eric Bost, Ambassador (Ret.) and senior leader at the Borlaug Institute.

With a distinguished career that includes:

• U.S. Ambassador to South Africa (2006–2009)

• USDA Under Secretary overseeing $58+ billion in nutrition programs

• International engagement across more than 140 countries

Ambassador Bost brought a global perspective—but saw a local solution.

He recognized ICCE as a grassroots model with the power to scale globally, and in a major show of support, committed to visiting Fort Worth to help elevate awareness and expand opportunity.

Coffee as a Catalyst for Economic Mobility

The team also worked closely with Eric Brenner, a leader in agricultural development and global coffee systems.

Drawing from years of international experience, Brenner helped unpack:

• The full specialty coffee ecosystem (farm equipment import → roast → retail)

• Workforce pathways embedded within the coffee industry

• Strategies for connecting urban communities to global supply chains

This was not abstract theory—it was applied strategy.

Together, they began laying the foundation for a Texas A&M-supported certificate program, designed to equip inner-city residents with the knowledge, skills, and access needed to enter—and lead in—the specialty coffee space.

From Classroom to Commerce

To bridge knowledge with execution, the team visited What’s The Buzz Coffee Company, led by owner Rodrigo Chavez.

Rodrigo’s journey—from coffee grower in Guatemala to owner of a thriving Texas micro-roastery—offered a real-world blueprint for success.

His operation, now roasting thousands of pounds weekly, demonstrated what is possible when quality, consistency, and strategic investment align.

He shared invaluable insights:

• Scaling smart requires the right equipment—not just more equipment

• Consistency is the foundation of customer trust

• Infrastructure upgrades are essential for long-term growth

• Quality control defines success in specialty markets

Rodrigo didn’t just share knowledge—he embodied ownership at scale.

From Bean to Brew: Learning in Action

Inside the labs and roasting facilities, participants moved beyond observation into application:

• Coffee cupping and sensory evaluation

• Roast profiling and equipment operation

• Brewing techniques and quality assurance

• Understanding the difference between commercial and specialty coffee

From the first aroma to the final sip, the team encountered coffee as science, art, and enterprise all at once.

Brewing the Future: From College Station to Cowtown

The impact of this experience is already taking shape.

As a direct result:

• Texas A&M is exploring a certificate-based workforce training program for urban communities

• Ambassador Bost will visit Fort Worth to help amplify the initiative

• Eric Brenner will continue advising on workforce and industry pathways

• Rodrigo Chavez will support product development and training efforts

• All partners have committed to supporting the upcoming

COWTOWN THROWDOWN LATTE ART COMPETITION

General Worth Square — Downtown Fort Worth

October 17, 2026

This event will be more than a competition—it will serve as a gateway to exposure, opportunity, and economic participation for a new generation.

A Movement, Not a Moment

What happened in College Station is not an isolated success—it is part of a larger movement.

The Inner City Coffee Exchange is building a model where:

• Coffee becomes a career pathway

• Entrepreneurship becomes accessible and attainable

• Training leads to ownership and generational impact

• Communities once overlooked become centers of innovation and excellence

This is economic evangelism in action.

This is workforce development with purpose.

This is what it means to percolate the people—

raising capacity, cultivating culture, and creating change from the ground up.

Contact Information

Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

817-966-7625

kptatum1@gmail.com

www.newmountrose.com

Like every great cup of coffee, this movement has been cultivated with care, refined through pressure, and prepared with purpose.

And now—

It’s ready to be poured into the community.