The Detroit native sheds gentle on the historical past of Black-owned companies in his neighborhood, in addition to how he’s working to revive his hometown via espresso and neighborhood.

BY MELINA DEVONEY
FOR BARISTA MAGAZINE

Photographs courtesy of Martell Mason

Yesterday, we launched Half One of our dialog with Martell Mason: founding father of Sepia Espresso Challenge and a frontrunner within the revitalization of Highland Park, an enclave of Detroit, Mich., the place he grew up. Right this moment, we proceed our One On One with Martell to speak in regards to the inspiration behind the title “Sepia Espresso Challenge,” the historical past of Black-owned companies in Detroit, and the thrilling issues in retailer.

Melina Devoney: What’s the which means behind the title “Sepia Espresso Challenge”?

Martell Mason: The phrase “sepia” comes from the Latin title of the cuttlefish, which secretes a reddish-brown pigment that artists as early because the seventeenth century used of their artwork. With the invention of pictures within the nineteenth century, photographers used sepia ink to supply heat, deep tones. Browns, reds, and lotions may be seen in images produced throughout this era. These hues impressed our model’s idea. Established in 2021 when the U.S. and the world have been experiencing a lot on social, financial, and political fronts, it was necessary for me to construct a protected and inclusive model that represents our various neighborhood. Because the model’s identification developed, our title and emblem took on even higher which means. For instance, if we have a look at our emblem, the “sepian” rainbow, it represents:

• Folks: The sepian colour schematic (sepia, browns, tans, yellows, and orange) is an outline of an inclusive, consultant platform created for all. Our motto has at all times been: by the individuals, for the individuals.
• Espresso: Our emblem exhibits how our culturally various communities around the globe take their espresso. Right here within the U.S., black espresso is king. All through East Africa and Arabia, spices are added, whereas in Vietnam, condensed milk can typically be a non-negotiable addition. No matter how you are taking your espresso, at Sepia, all of us belong.
• Origin: Our emblem represents the weather. For those who look carefully, you will notice the solar (sepia/rust colour), rays of sunshine (yellow, orange), and the terroir at origin (browns) mimicking rows of espresso bushes. With out the 4 parts (earth, wind, water, and fireplace), none of what we do and love could be doable.

We’re all sepians—people on a mission to make sure our communities have what they should develop and maintain themselves. Our platform creates a protected area for our underserved and undervalued communities. Via espresso, we’re in a position—if just for a second—to present some (of the individuals) inside our neighborhood a possibility to pause within the day, reset, and be current. Espresso, like meals, has this superb energy, and I’m grateful to be a espresso steward making this doable.

Sepia’s espresso collections additionally pay homage to Detroit’s Black neighborhoods. Are you able to inform me extra about that?

The Nice Migration of Black People from the South noticed Detroit’s Black inhabitants skyrocket from 5,700 in 1910 to 120,000 by 1930, with many migrating to work within the automotive business. Estimates present that as many as 350 Black-owned companies have been shaped inside Black Backside. The district had docs, dentists, attorneys, eating places, salons, and a bunch of leisure venues and diners, which in fact served espresso method into the midnight hours.

Our espresso collections are impressed by the road names and distinguished residents who as soon as known as the enclaves of Black Backside and Paradise Valley dwelling.

What challenges got here with establishing Sepia Espresso in an underserved neighborhood?

The best hurdle now we have confronted over the past three years is securing funding to scale up enterprise operations. Though Detroit has seen huge improvement, there are nonetheless enclaves throughout the metropolis that are tremendously underserved, hindering their capability to profit from the town’s success and future progress prospects. Like an artist placing brush to canvas, I see a vibrant future within the enclave of Highland Park.

In 2024, we acquired a 3,200-square-foot property in Highland Park, and now want our espresso neighborhood close to and much to help our efforts to get this constructing rehabbed in 2026. The property was doubtless a retail store that was as soon as related to a residential dwelling that was demolished many years prior. In Detroit, mixed-use buildings have been designed to permit households to have their business companies on the bottom degree with dwelling quarters on the second and third flooring. Our property in Highland Park was doubtless a carriage home that was reconfigured right into a business outpost within the Forties/’50s to benefit from the inhabitants progress throughout the metropolis. Extra jobs equaled extra individuals, which meant extra disposable revenue to buy retail and residential items.

Rising up, I bear in mind this constructing being a small equipment restore store. Whether or not it was a damaged washer or fan, you possibly can take your home equipment for restore and/or resell. Hamilton Avenue
was recognized for restore spots, furnishings shops, and small vintage outlets. Now we have really discovered a number of previous relics from our constructing that we hope to protect, telling the story of many years previous.

The second problem now we have confronted is getting underserved and undervalued communities to see that they’ve worth. For many years, city communities, resulting from systemic inequalities, have been conditioned to imagine that nothing is feasible. The world studying this could most likely suppose, “How laborious is it to open a roastery and café?” Properly, when political and social techniques make it tough for minorities to succeed, this turns into a generational crutch, with many simply accepting the established order.

It has undoubtedly taken numerous espresso pop-ups and coffee-and-conversation occasions round city to get residents to see that improvement from throughout the neighborhood is feasible. With espresso, we’re inspiring those that had given up hope. We’re additionally reassuring our elders in the neighborhood that the backbreaking work they did prior to now was not executed in useless. Our work has given lots of people a way of peace understanding that the tide has shifted and companies like Sepia Espresso are taking the required steps—and dangers—to make sure our communities are restored with integrity.

The place have you ever appeared for steering in operating Sepia Espresso?

I’m grateful to have native, nationwide, and worldwide help. Through the years, a number of business leaders have contributed to my progress and success. One particular person particularly who continues to information me is the nice Phyllis Johnson, proprietor of BD Imports and founding father of the Espresso Coalition for Racial Fairness (CCRE). Phyllis impressed me some 10 years in the past to dive into the inexperienced espresso buying and selling enterprise. I bear in mind emailing her years in the past, not anticipating a follow-up. However just like the Phyllis now we have all come to know and love, she responded! Her message was considerate, with every phrase of help filled with nice intention. For that, I’m so grateful.

I’m excited to announce that I used to be accepted into CCRE’s inaugural Brewing for Fairness Fellowship! Since its founding in 2020, CCRE has been dedicated to constructing racial fairness and increasing alternatives within the espresso business. The launch of the fellowship displays a serious milestone in that journey, connecting the group’s first 5 years of advocacy to the event of future leaders. It’s such an honor to be a part of this inaugural group, and (I) sit up for constructing lasting relationships all through this course of.

Congratulations, that’s so thrilling! What has been your greatest pleasure within the Sepia Espresso journey up to now?

Two summers in the past, I used to be at a espresso pop-up with a gaggle of (fraternities and sororities from) traditionally Black schools and universities. Two elders, most likely of their 70s, got here to our sales space for a cup of espresso. We solely supply the highest-quality espresso, so I advised that they each strive it black earlier than including any sugar or cream, one thing our older generations are simply programmed to do. It was an Ethiopian pure from Guji—tremendous fruity, deep, and (with) wealthy berry and chocolate notes. They each agreed to strive it black.

About 10 minutes later, I seen that each girls had completed their cups, sans sugar or cream. One among them picked up the empty cup and nudged her buddy and stated, “Scent it, scent the cup!” I imagine what she was sensing and experiencing was the candy aromatics of a well-processed Guji nonetheless bouncing within the
cup, one thing I’m positive she had by no means skilled with extra mainstream business espresso. It’s moments like this that make me smile with delight. It confirms that we’re doing precisely what we’re alleged to be doing: giving our communities high quality and repair whereas eliminating filler.

The best job has been our capability, regardless of the challenges talked about, to supply our neighborhood with a protected and inclusive area they will name their very own. Because the provider, now we have made it a spotlight to make sure costs are reasonably priced to everybody in our neighborhood, no matter revenue degree. We’re proud to be “Dwelling of the $2 Drip,” making it doable for all of our neighbors to return in and revel in a cup of our Hastings Mix.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melina Devoney (she/her) is a barista and freelance author in Los Angeles zeroed in on espresso and agriculture. She goals to amplify the voices of farmers and a range of views throughout the espresso business, and he or she’s happiest when operating on wooded trails and dancing at live shows.

This text initially appeared within the December 2025 + January 2026 difficulty of Barista Journal. Learn extra of the problem on-line right here totally free.

Subscribe and Extra!

As at all times, you’ll be able to learn Barista Journal in paper by subscribing or ordering a difficulty.

Assist Barista Journal with a Membership.

Signup for our weekly publication.

Learn the February + March 2026 Problem totally free with our digital version. 

Without spending a dime entry to greater than 5 years’ price of points, go to our digital version archives right here.