Philadelphia has long had a strong coffee scene, but there is one Black-owned cafe with three local locations that has found success through three primary values, writes Chandler Lutz for CBS News Philadelphia.
While Good Karma Café is known for its bold flavors and cozy corners, it’s also known for its sense of community, sustainability, and equity.
Those three values are expressed in each cup of coffee brewed since it first opened its doors in 2008.
“We’re not this transactional, faceless place,” Shawn Nesbit, president and CEO of the cafe, said. “We’re part of a community, and it’s important that people feel welcome in everything that we do.”
Nesbit opened the cafe with a mission-first philosophy, but with 100 percent organic and fair-trade coffee.
Raised in foster care, Nesbit credits his foster mother for instilling in him the desire and commitment to give back.
He considers Good Karma an extension of his personality as he seeks to push through the challenges of access, representation, and opportunity for those from and in his community.
“The name makes you accountable because you can’t have a business called Good Karma and not provide that in everything you do,” Nesbit said.
A fourth location is on the way.
Read more about Shawn Nesbit and the values he carries with him at Good Karma Cafe in CBS News Philadelphia.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in August 2025.
