321 Coffee
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coffee roasting and retail |
| Founded | 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Founder | Lindsay Wrege, Michael Evans |
| Headquarters | Raleigh , United States |
Area served | Research Triangle, North Carolina |
Key people | Lindsay Wrege (CEO) |
| Products | Coffee, café services |
321 Coffee is a U.S.-based coffee roaster and café chain dedicated to employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Established in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2017, the company currently manages five retail outlets along with a roasting center located within the Research Triangle region as of April 2024.
Overview
The origin of 321 Coffee traces back to 2017 when N.C. State University freshmen Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans created a college club aimed at providing job opportunities for adults with IDD. This initiative transitioned into a formal business by 2021. Initially, the concept took shape as a pop-up coffee stand at N.C. State events, with their first permanent café opening at the North Carolina State Farmers Market in 2018. This location expanded to twice its original size by 2020.
Following their graduation in 2021, Wrege and Evans accelerated the company’s expansion by launching three additional venues within one year. These included an on-site café inside Pendo’s downtown Raleigh headquarters (February 2022), the first independent store in Downtown Raleigh (August 2022), and a second standalone outlet in Durham (December 2022). Their inclusive business model and rapid growth attracted national attention, including coverage on The Today Show.
In addition to retail cafés, 321 Coffee established an accessible roasting facility in Raleigh that supplies their shops as well as local eateries, corporate break rooms, and grocery stores across the region. This facility features adaptive machinery—such as vacuum extractors, batch weighers, and continuous band sealers—designed to support roasters with limited hand mobility. These innovations were made possible through collaborations with Lenovo and EngageNC. In January 2024, they further expanded by opening another in-office café at Relias Learning’s headquarters in Morrisville.
Early in 2024, the company introduced a mobile coffee cart service targeting office environments and corporate gatherings to broaden its footprint within the corporate sector.
Among its significant collaborations is a co-branded coffee product named Greater Good developed with N.C. State University, alongside plans to establish a retail presence on N.C. State’s Centennial Campus. Additionally, the News & Observer honored 321 Coffee as the "Best Coffee Shop in the Triangle" in their "2022 Triangle Coffee Bracket."
Motivation and founding
Lindsay Wrege, co-founder and CEO, was raised immersed in communities of children with IDD, frequently engaging in activities alongside them. She observed that once these individuals reached adulthood, employment options became scarce and often limited to low-skill tasks despite their abilities. Motivated by concern for her peers’ futures, Wrege aimed to develop more substantial job opportunities.
Upon starting at N.C. State University as Park Scholars in 2017, Wrege and Michael Evans envisioned a coffee business employing adults with disabilities. Drawing inspiration from Wilmington’s Bitty & Beau's—founded by Amy Wright—they launched 321 Coffee utilizing folding tables and commercially purchased coffee to provide work for adults with IDD at local events. These pop-up stands gradually evolved into consistent weekend shifts at the North Carolina State Farmers Market, culminating in their first permanent site within the Market Shoppes building.
Mission
The core objective of 321 Coffee is to create valuable job opportunities for adults living with disabilities. With the U.S. labor force participation rate for this group at roughly 20%, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 321 Coffee aims to close a critical employment gap.
Branding
The name 321 Coffee is inspired by Down syndrome, which results from an extra copy of chromosome 21. The organization hires individuals with a range of intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and DiGeorge syndrome, highlighting its commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Locations
321 Coffee maintains five outlets throughout the Research Triangle area, broadening its regional footprint.