Francheska Velazquez
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The Backstory
Growing up with two parents who were small business owners, Sasha Fay, co-founder of Ovelle Coffee, feels that entrepreneurship is ingrained in her family history. “My parents have always been involved in entrepreneurial endeavors,” Sasha shares. ” I believe it’s in my blood to be an entrepreneur. Though it is not the easiest of roads to travel, it is very rewarding to be able to connect with your community in such a genuine way. It fills the soul!”
The inspiration behind Ovelle Coffee traces back to the love Sasha and her husband Ian have for coffee. Sasha says, “We love coffee! It is a great community builder.” This joy was shared during their destination wedding in 2019, where they toured the Blue Mountains in Jamaica and discovered that the coffee produced there is revered as some of the best in the world. This experience inspired Sasha and Ian to bring this coffee back to Connecticut. A year later, Ovelle Coffee was established.
Currently, Ovelle Coffee operates a roastery located at the Swift Factory in Hartford. Sasha explains, “It is our dream to educate customers on the impacts of direct trade and how they make a difference with every bag purchased. Direct trade goes beyond fair trade and allows us to work with farmers directly so they can reinvest back in their farms, earn a living wage, and diversify their markets.”
In 2021, Sasha leaped to pursue Ovelle Coffee full-time, leaving her corporate job behind. “It has been quite the rollercoaster starting a business from scratch,” Sasha reflects. “We have been able to connect with some amazing mentors along the way to help guide our business, keeping our mission at the forefront of what we do.”
The inspiration behind Ovelle Coffee traces back to the love Sasha and her husband Ian have for coffee. Sasha says, “We love coffee! It is a great community builder.” This joy was shared during their destination wedding in 2019, where they toured the Blue Mountains in Jamaica and discovered that the coffee produced there is revered as some of the best in the world. This experience inspired Sasha and Ian to bring this coffee back to Connecticut. A year later, Ovelle Coffee was established.
Currently, Ovelle Coffee operates a roastery located at the Swift Factory in Hartford. Sasha explains, “It is our dream to educate customers on the impacts of direct trade and how they make a difference with every bag purchased. Direct trade goes beyond fair trade and allows us to work with farmers directly so they can reinvest back in their farms, earn a living wage, and diversify their markets.”
In 2021, Sasha leaped to pursue Ovelle Coffee full-time, leaving her corporate job behind. “It has been quite the rollercoaster starting a business from scratch,” Sasha reflects. “We have been able to connect with some amazing mentors along the way to help guide our business, keeping our mission at the forefront of what we do.”
How Women's Business Development Council Helped
Sasha believes WBDC’s continuous support has been pivotal to the business’s growth. She states, “WBDC and its dedicated team have been instrumental in fostering numerous opportunities for our business’s growth and education. From impactful programs and events to invaluable one-on-one mentorship and access to capital. Their constant support has significantly contributed to our success.” Ovelle Coffee received an Equity Match Grant (now known as Ignite) from WBDC and used the funds to purchase essential equipment such as a label printer, commercial scale, band sealer, and pallet jack.
The grant money has not only impacted Ovelle Coffee’s operational efficiency and capacity but has also facilitated expanded services and partnerships. Sasha explains, “The new equipment will help us to grow as we continue to partner with roasters, cafes, restaurants, and companies.” This enhanced capacity enables Ovelle Coffee to roast and package more coffee, offering customizable services like private labeling. Additionally, Ovelle now offers small batches of freshly roasted coffee and un-roasted (green coffee) Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee for roasters and cafe owners to roast themselves, thereby offering greater flexibility and quality. WBDC’s support has empowered Ovelle Coffee to diversify its offerings and achieve greater success in the competitive coffee industry.
The grant money has not only impacted Ovelle Coffee’s operational efficiency and capacity but has also facilitated expanded services and partnerships. Sasha explains, “The new equipment will help us to grow as we continue to partner with roasters, cafes, restaurants, and companies.” This enhanced capacity enables Ovelle Coffee to roast and package more coffee, offering customizable services like private labeling. Additionally, Ovelle now offers small batches of freshly roasted coffee and un-roasted (green coffee) Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee for roasters and cafe owners to roast themselves, thereby offering greater flexibility and quality. WBDC’s support has empowered Ovelle Coffee to diversify its offerings and achieve greater success in the competitive coffee industry.
Website
Location
10 Love Lane, Hartford, CT 06112-1614
Contact Phone
(860) 351-7235