Expectancy is more than just a coffee company..
Denzell Oats, a young black Minneapolis entrepreneur chartered out in 2021 to create a coffee company that combined his love for coffee with the positive message to “Expect Something Good.”
“To me, there is so much to be said about coffee.”, says Denzell. “So many stories, so many origins. All that before it even gets into the hands of the consumer. So, the experience one has with coffee can be very personal.”
Going back to the days of quarantining, like many others, the reality of it set in place for Denzell. He realized he had more time than ever to dive headfirst into his passions.
“My mornings were suddenly moving at a different pace. From having most things half prepped in an attempt to be out of the house by 7:30 to extending my morning routine well past 9 or even 10am sometimes, it felt luxurious!”, Denzell laughed as he explained.
“I found being able to try and experience coffees from all around the world and brewing them differently to define different flavors inspired me the most. It took me on a “trip” during a time where most of the world was locked down.”
It was at this time Denzell’s love for coffee deepened. But so did his love for community. In May of 2020 Minneapolis experienced unrest beyond imagination. After the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, protests erupted all throughout the city demanding justice be brought to the family and the people of Minneapolis. The city, home to almost 500,000 people, sustained extensive damage from rioting and looting. Multiple businesses were either burned down or destroyed.
“It hurt to see. I know a lot of people have stories of growing up or special time spent in the city. To see it burn like that meant a lot of those memories don’t have a home anymore.”
But all this was the catalyst for Expectancy and Denzell. During a time where negative headlines frequented the front pages, it was the simple mantra of “Expect Something Good” that kept Denzell grounded.
“With COVID combined with the murder of George (Floyd), there was so much happening TO us as a city, I knew there was no overnight cure - but there had to be a start. Our city is home to so many positive creatives and optimistic people, we just needed to create space for that to transcend the things that were happening to us.”
With the support of friends and family, Denzell launched Expectancy online at the end of 2021 offering single origin and uniquely blended coffees from all around the world.
“Our supply chain and sourcing is deeply relationship based. This was done purposely to create positive connections along the way. We want to share a story with our people through coffee – and the people we work with have really embraced that and are eager to grow with us.”
Expectancy operates out of a mobile unit when they can, meeting their customers at events and markets to share their coffee and positivity.
“Serving coffee is one thing, being in a place of Expectation makes bringing our coffee to market that much more exciting and I think Minneapolis has that. It allows us and others to share our story and hopefully turn the corner of positivity and healing for our city and nation.”