Zion Eli’Jah

Zion began his coffee journey in 2021 while working at Pascal’s Coffeehouse during his third year of college in Gainesville, Florida. What started as a job quickly became a passion as mentors introduced him to the deeper elements of coffee—origin, brewing technique, and the distinct flavor profiles that emerge from different regions around the world.

After graduating, Zion spent a year continuing his work in Gainesville at Wyatt’s Coffee, a café that roasts through its sister company, Resident Coffee Roasters. There, he expanded his knowledge beyond brewing into roasting and the agricultural side of coffee, gaining a deeper appreciation for producers and the global systems behind the beverage. During this time, Zion also began reflecting on representation within the industry and developed a strong desire to see more Black professionals and consumers represented in specialty coffee spaces.

That perspective deepened after participating in the CxffeeBlack Black Barista Exchange Program in 2023. Through the program, Zion traveled to Ethiopia and Rwanda, connecting with fellow coffee professionals and experiencing coffee culture at origin. In Ethiopia, he participated in the traditional coffee ceremony prepared in a jebena, gaining insight into the powerful role coffee plays in community, reconciliation, and shared cultural identity. The experience profoundly shaped Zion’s approach to coffee education and advocacy.

Inspired by the trip, Zion created the Coffee Cultural Experience, an immersive event first held in Gainesville that combined photography, storytelling, coffee tasting, and cultural education. The event featured African-grown coffees prepared as pour-overs, sensory explorations of flavor notes, and a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony led by members of the local Ethiopian community.

In May 2024, Zion relocated to Brooklyn, New York, to participate in a year-long coffee education program with Neumann Kaffee Gruppe and InterAmerican Coffee in Hoboken, New Jersey. The program focuses on the green coffee supply chain, including importing, exporting, quality control, sustainability, and trading. Zion is also a certified Q-Grader through the Coffee Quality Institute.

Today, he works as a Tasting Room Host and Educator at Driftaway Coffee in Brooklyn, where he continues sharing knowledge about coffee’s origins, culture, and flavor with a broader audience.