When the world paused during the pandemic, Lori Jones chose purpose. In 2020, amid uncertainty and personal loss, she launched Black•ology Coffee Company—a luxury minimalist coffee brand rooted in culture, storytelling, and community healing. What began in her Raleigh, North Carolina, kitchen has grown into a global online presence, inspiring customers and communities with every cup.
Lori, a multi-award-winning international entrepreneur, former executive chef, and purpose-driven thought leader, created Black•ology not just as a business, but as a movement. A single mother, speaker, and mentor, she turned personal adversity into a platform for empowerment and global impact.
A Brand Born From Adversity
“Black•ology was born out of loss but bloomed with purpose,” Lori reflects. The COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected halt to her career as a head chef at a sorority house at UNC Chapel Hill. But in that pause, she found clarity.
Coffee, a long-time source of peace and ritual for Lori, became the foundation for a new vision. As a chef, she had always approached coffee the way she approached food—with attention to flavor, balance, and presentation. But this wasn’t just about coffee. “I wanted to create a sensory, soulful experience,” she shares.
Starting from her kitchen, she built Black•ology to blend culture, community, and confidence into every cup—a brand that pours boldness and meaning into daily rituals.
A Leadership Journey That Shapes a Mission
Lori’s path as a leader has been shaped by resilience. Navigating the world as a Black woman and single mother taught her the importance of representation and reverence for stories often overlooked.
“Black•ology is about representation, resilience, and reverence,” she says. The brand leads with intention and inclusivity, reflecting Lori’s values of authenticity, access, and alignment. Every product, partnership, and piece of content serves this greater mission: to empower others and honor identity.
Overcoming Challenges with Confidence
Starting a luxury coffee brand during a global crisis came with unique challenges. Without capital or a team, Lori faced doubt, bias, and burnout. “The biggest challenge? Convincing people that a Black woman could build a luxury brand in a traditionally male-dominated industry,” she explains.
Rather than being deterred, Lori became a student of business. She taught herself e-commerce logistics, digital marketing, and brand building. She sought mentors, leaned on accountability partners, and, above all, moved with confidence, long before the world validated her vision.
More Than Coffee: A Conduit for Change
Black•ology Coffee stands for much more than its blends. It is rooted in culture, confidence, and community healing. Each product tells a story, whether honoring a place, history, or identity.
Signature blends like “27610” Raleigh roast and “Historic District” pay tribute to legacy Black neighborhoods and local culture. Beyond coffee, the brand partners with nonprofits supporting survivors of domestic violence, youth reentry programs, and cancer research. Lori also teaches culinary foundations through a nonprofit, helping second-chance individuals regain confidence and career paths.
“Our mission is to use coffee as a conduit for change,” Lori says.
Uplifting Women at Every Level
Black•ology is women-led and women-inspired. Lori mentors aspiring entrepreneurs, collaborates with female-owned suppliers, and showcases women through storytelling, pop-up events, and social media.
Many of Black•ology’s customers are women seeking calm, confidence, or connection in their daily rituals. “I built this brand to remind women—especially Black women—that they are powerful, seen, and worthy,” she emphasizes.
Initiatives That Inspire
Among Lori’s proudest achievements is a barista pop-up training for young women. The program taught coffee-making and entrepreneurship and paired participants with mentors. It concluded with a fundraiser for domestic violence survivors—a full-circle event blending coffee, courage, and community.
“That initiative reminded me that business is most beautiful when it becomes a platform for purpose,” Lori reflects.
Principles That Guide Leadership
At the heart of Lori’s leadership is a commitment to service, strategy, and spirit. She focuses on building people as much as building a brand. Every decision is guided by alignment with Black•ology’s core values, and she balances visionary thinking with compassionate execution.
“I don’t believe in gatekeeping,” she says. “If I know something that can help the next woman rise, I share it freely.”
Balancing Business and Purpose
For Lori, running a successful brand and championing meaningful causes go hand in hand. Black•ology was designed to make meaning, not just money.
“I schedule time for both the boardroom and the community,” she says. Tools like digital planning and delegation help her stay grounded, while morning rituals, prayer, and rest protect her peace.
“Balance isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things with clarity and conviction.”
Advice to Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
Lori’s message to women looking to break barriers is simple yet powerful:
“Start before you’re ready. You don’t need perfection to make progress. Your voice, your story, your vision matters. Show up. Be consistent. Build with soul. And remember, you are the green light. There is something powerful brewing inside of you—don’t dim it for anyone.”
The Road Ahead for Black•ology
Lori envisions intentional scaling for Black•ology in the next 3–5 years. Plans include:
- Opening a flagship Black•ology Café that doubles as a coffee shop and cultural community hub
- Expanding product lines and growing international reach
- Launching a private-label oat milk brand
- Developing a barista training curriculum
Above all, she aims to establish Black•ology as a legacy brand that stands for more than coffee—a brand that shifts culture.
A Legacy of Boldness and Impact
Lori’s vision for her legacy is clear: to build boldly, love deeply, and lift others as she climbs.
“My legacy is about transformation,” she says. “I want to leave behind a blueprint for the next generation to follow—one rooted in faith, innovation, and impact. If one woman says, ‘Because she did it, I can too,’ then I’ve done my job.”
The Women Who Inspire
Lori draws strength from women who lead with softness and strength. She cites Michelle Obama for grace, Ava DuVernay for storytelling, and Tabitha Brown for authenticity. But it’s the everyday women—mothers, mentors, survivors—who rise and do unseen work each day that inspire her most.
“That quiet, relentless strength is the kind of leadership that moves me.”
“Black•ology Coffee Company is more than a brand. It’s a movement built on culture, confidence, and community—led by a woman who turned adversity into a platform for purpose.”
About Black•ology Coffee Company
Black•ology Coffee Company is a purpose-driven, luxury minimalist coffee brand founded in 2020 by Lori Jones. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a global online presence, Black•ology blends culture, confidence, and community into every cup.
Beyond offering premium coffee, the company is committed to cultural storytelling, empowerment, and social impact—partnering with nonprofits, supporting community initiatives, and inspiring change through its products and platforms. Black•ology Coffee stands as a symbol of boldness, authenticity, and transformative leadership in the coffee and e-commerce industry.
Company Details
- Company Name: Black•ology Coffee Company
- Founding Year: 2020
- Office Locations: Raleigh, North Carolina (Global Online Presence)
- Official Website: www.blackology.coffee
- Industry/ Sector: Coffee, E-commerce, Coaching, Community Impact
Leader’s Profile
- Name of the Featured Leader: Lori Jones
- Designation: Founder & CEO
- Brief Background & Experience:
Lori Jones is a multi-award-winning international entrepreneur, former executive chef, culinary instructor, and purpose-driven thought leader. She is the founder of Black•ology Coffee Company, a luxury minimalist brand that emerged during the pandemic and has become a symbol of cultural storytelling, confidence, and community. A single mother, speaker, and mentor, Lori turned personal adversity into a platform for global impact.