Honoring Ancestors Through Coffee: How Marquise Richards’ Coffee Launch Connects Community

It was a chilly day in December, but you wouldn’t know that stopping by Indie Hall, an inconspicuous building in Northern Liberties. The space, already warmed by the growing crowd of friends and supporters, felt even warmer by the joy and camaraderie that filled the room. Somebody’s good playlist played in the background as laughter, good conversation, and the scent of coffee filled the air. Walking among the swelling crowd, a tall and smiling Marquise Richards greeted everyone who came with his typical big hugs and daps.

Richards, a thought leader, community nurturer, and creative is well loved, not just for his brilliant takes on his podcast, Keep It A Bean, but also for who he is. A strong and outspoken voice for Black wellness and mental health, Richards blends accountability, levity, and community, and that was on full display at this event, the launch of his coffee blend, Leroy’s Coffee.

“It’s all about honoring my Pop Pop Leroy,” Richards says. As described on the coffee’s page, "Leroy Ferguson was a fisherman, lover of jazz, and enjoyed westerns. We used to go fishing over the summer, and that's where he taught me the value of patience and persistence. These values are important in life, and when I blended them together, it taught me to truly enjoy the beautiful life that we are given.”

This coffee blend is made possible through a collaboration with BVP Coffee. Gary Johnson, III, founder and CEO of BVP Coffee, located at 3675 Market St, intentionally chose coffee as a mode to amplify Black History and culture. “We sell specialty grade coffee source from all around the world, and we teach Black history with our products,” says Johnson.

Johnson then spins a bottle in his hands of cold brew with the year 1867 emblazoned across the dark glass. “So if you can see on our bottle cold brew here, we have the year 1867. 1867 is the year Howard University was founded, as well as Morehouse, Morgan State, and several other HBCUs across the country. We really want to invest in the next generation and inspire them to be entrepreneurs or making sure that they have pride in their history and their cultures.”

The timing of the celebration of BVP Coffee’s collaboration with Richards to honor his grandfather felt immaculate. During his welcoming speech, Richard realized that 2025, when this coffee blend would launch, would be the 10th anniversary of his grandfather’s passing. “He taught me the value of patience and presence,” says Richards. “That's what this whole thing around coffee is. What does it mean to be present with your coffee and your patience that it takes to make really good coffee.”

This event may have been for a coffee launch, but it felt more like a celebration; a celebration of life for Richards’ grandfather, a celebration of our collective story, and a celebration of the beauty and warmth of community. As Richards’ says about Leroy’s Blend, “It tastes even better when sipped in the presence of community."