We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shannon Sanders, Jr. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shannon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The mission behind Cape Coast Co. starts with my grandfather’s journey—from Oakland to Ghana—where he opened Cape Coast Coffee House. It wasn’t just about coffee. It was about building something meaningful from the ground up: a space for connection, culture, and community.

That story shaped how I see coffee—not just as a drink, but as a way to move with purpose and bring others along.

Cape Coast Co. is my take on that legacy. Same intention, new format. Flash-chilled, canned coffee that’s bold, smooth, and ready to go—made for real life, wherever you’re headed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Shannon Sanders, Jr., and I’m the founder of Cape Coast Co.—a Nashville-based, ready-to-drink coffee brand rooted in culture, creativity, and real connection. The idea behind Cape Coast Co. was shaped by my family’s story. My grandfather moved from Oakland to Ghana, where he opened Cape Coast Coffee House—and he still runs it today. For us, coffee was never just about caffeine. It was about building something that brings people together.

I didn’t come through the typical coffee industry path. I come from a family of creatives—my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father—all fueled by coffee and expression. That shaped how I approach business: not just as a product to sell, but as a way to tell a story and create something people feel connected to.

Cape Coast Co. makes bold, smooth, flash-chilled canned coffee that’s vegan, sugar-free, and made to move. We currently offer three blends—Catalyst, ‘El Jeffe’, and our Decaf—crafted for everyday moments: morning routines, creative sessions, or late-night wind-downs. Our products solve the gap between high-quality coffee and convenience, without compromise.

What sets us apart is what’s behind the can. We’re not just selling a drink—we’re offering a brand experience that blends design, storytelling, and function. Through things like recipes, Beans & Beats, and The Coffee Table, we explore coffee culture in a more creative, inclusive way.

I’m most proud of how people see themselves in this brand. Whether it’s the design, the story, or the product itself, our community connects with what we’re building. Cape Coast Co. is more than coffee—it’s culture in a can. If you care about what you consume, how it’s made, and why it matters, we’d love for you to be part of it.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Yes, we manufacture our canned coffee—but it didn’t start that way. When we first set out to launch Cape Coast Co., we didn’t come from a beverage manufacturing background. What we did have was a clear vision: to create a bold, clean, ready-to-drink coffee that honored our roots and delivered real flavor with purpose.

To bring that vision to life, we partnered with experienced co-packers in Nashville who helped guide us from concept to can. It was a collaborative process—sourcing green coffee from Ghana, refining the brew method, and dialing in the flavor profile until it matched what we had in mind.

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that manufacturing is as much about relationships as it is about process. Finding the right partner—someone who shared our values, could grow with us, and was open to experimentation—made all the difference. Communication and trust were essential.

Today, every can of Cape Coast Co. reflects that journey. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and continue to produce with care, creativity, and intention—because our story lives in every sip.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

We’ve built our reputation by being consistent—staying true to our story and putting care into everything we do. From the beginning, Cape Coast Co. has been about more than just coffee. It’s about creating something honest, rooted in real experiences, and made with intention.

We didn’t come from the beverage world. We came in with a clear vision and a product that reflects our values—bold flavor, clean ingredients, and a deeper meaning behind every can. That’s what’s helped people connect with us.

Partnerships with brands like Rivian, Yelp, and The Malin have helped us grow, but they happened because people saw what we were already doing and believed in it. Whether we’re part of a test drive event or showing up in a local creative space, we’re just doing what we’ve always done—sharing something we believe in and letting it speak for itself.

At the core, we’ve built trust by showing up, telling our story honestly, and making something we’re proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.capecoast.co
• Instagram: @capecoastco
• Facebook: @capecoastco
• Linkedin: @capecoastco
• Youtube: @capecoastco

Image Credits
Ann Marie DiSalvo