“We went with the coffee trailer instead because it's a startup option that has a lower cost and less risk—it’s also a faster process than opening a brick-and-mortar,” Alleyne told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay in a phone call.
Although there’s no location set for the Rise Kulture + Koffee trailer debut, Alleyne says that she’s open to different types of local markets and pop-up events. The opening will purposefully coincide with Black History Month—so expect festivities to incorporate elements of Black culture and heritage.
The announcement comes exactly one year since the launch of Rise Kulture + Koffee, and although there’s no official location yet, the business has been thriving online. Its website sells Rise Kulture + Koffee merchandise, whole beans distributed by Black-owned roastery Royal Diaspora Coffee, as well as gift cards.
The two different beans available for purchase pay homage to historic Black neighborhoods in Tampa—Dobyville and Central Avenue—locations that once thrived in the 20th century. While we can expect more ties between local Black history and Rise’s products in the future, Alleyne says she’s more focused on building community and collaborating with other Black coffee entrepreneurs.
The first of many partnerships, Alleyne is teaming up with St. Petersburg-based experimental coffee roasters Hogg Batch for the next Rise drop, which will be available for purchase early next year.
The twin brothers’ roastery is located in the Grand Central District and known for its barrel-aged boozy beans. Although it doesn’t operate a physical coffee shop, you can purchase the beans online or wait until Rise Kulture + Koffee debuts next year.
Inspired by her experiences at Sip & Savor, a cafe in the southside of Chicago, Alleyne is dedicated to creating a gathering space that embodies Black culture and community—and the traveling coffee trailer will allow her to bring that energy to different locations in Tampa. While Ybor City was Alleyne’s original choice for the first Rise storefront, she’s now open to neighborhoods like Tampa Heights, Ybor Heights or Seminole Heights as well.
Keep an eye out for the latest Rise Kulture + Koffee developments by following their @risekoffeeandkulture on Instagram and Facebook.
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This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2021.