I started Hella Good Cup as a side hustle. I’ve always loved a good brew— the smell, the ritual, the connection it brings. I knew I wasn’t alone in that. So, I created Hella Good Cup for people like me — folks who enjoy a rich, honest cup of coffee or tea that feels like home.
But living in New York City means you can’t ignore the reality around you. Every day, you cross paths with people whose stories mirror your own — people working full-time, doing everything “right,” yet still struggling to afford a safe place to live. I’ve met working parents living in shelters, families who can pay rent but can’t afford the first and last month’s rent to get an apartment. Homelessness isn’t just unsafe — it’s expensive. It traps families in a cycle that makes saving nearly impossible.
What transformed Hella Good Cup from a side hustle into a mission-driven coffee brand was a simple, human moment.
One morning, on my way to an event, a man politely asked if I could buy him a cup of coffee.
There’s coffee on every corner in New York, so I said yes — and bought him one for $1.25 at my local bodega.
Later that same day, at the train station, a woman asked if I could help her pay her fare. Without hesitation, noticing I was eyeing her up and down because she was so well dressed, she told me she was coming from a shelter and needed to get to work. I paid her fare too.
As I walked away, something shifted. I realized that Hella Good Cup could be more than a side hustle — it could be a bridge. A way to pour back into the people and communities that keep this city running but are too often left behind.
That’s when I decided that Hella Good Cup would give back — directly — to organizations that support those in need, no questions asked. Because no one should have to prove their worthiness to have a safe place to sleep or a warm cup of coffee.
Even I, someone who has never had the live is a shelter, have been close to that edge. That’s why at Hella Good Cup we are focused! Every sip fuels something bigger — community, dignity, and the belief that everyone deserves a fair shot at stability. I know what it’s like to measure stability one paycheck at a time, to stretch every dollar, and to find joy in the smallest victories. My roots, like millions of others, are in households where hard work was a necessity, but security was never guaranteed. There are so many of us who grew up watching our families juggle bills, rent, and groceries—where every extra was a luxury, and every act of kindness was a lifeline.
From these beginnings, we learned that happiness and hardship can coexist. We found laughter in struggle, hope in hustle, and strength in community. Our story is one of perseverance—of making a dollar out of fifteen cents of turning scarcity into creativity, and of discovering pride in simply carrying on.
That’s why every cup of Hella Good Cup coffee support programs that fight food insecurity, promote housing stability, and empower people to move from surviving to thriving. For me, this isn’t just business—it’s personal. It’s about honoring the families who taught us that compassion is resilience, and proving that a company can lead with empathy while building something strong and sustainable.
We’re not just brewing coffee. We’re brewing possibility. We’re brewing dignity. We’re brewing hope.
Hella Good Cup—for those who believe in better days, and for those working hard to make them happen.
Brew good. Do good. Feel good—one cup at a time