Some businesses start with a business plan. Mine started with a loss.

I lost a dear friend — a children's teacher who dedicated his life to nurturing young minds in underserved communities. He believed, with everything he had, that every child deserves a quality education. Watching him pour his heart into that mission changed me forever.

I know that world well. For the past 30 years, I've dedicated my life to teaching underserved populations. I hold a Master's in International Education, and my days don't look like most people's — I'm up at 9 AM and I don't stop teaching until 10 at night. In between, I'm also a full-time caregiver to my elderly parents. Coffee isn't a luxury in my life. It's a lifeline. I run on 2 to 3 cups a day just to keep showing up for the people who need me.

When I lost my friend, I knew I had to carry his torch.

Ghost Roast Cafe was born from that grief, that love, and that purpose. Every bag of coffee, every cup of tea, every order placed is a small act that adds up to something extraordinary. 10% of every net sale goes directly to children's education worldwide. Every cup you drink fuels a child's future.