Coffee can give people the boost they need to get through the day–a simple sip can help you be more productive.  

It's also a well-known fact that a good pot of coffee can bring people together.  

That is part of the mission of Obel Hernandez Jr., STH ’15 through his own family’s business which brings high-quality coffee to Philadelphia.  

Growing up, Hernandez watched his father climb the ranks of the coffee world to become one of forty expert graders for the New York Stock Exchange. In 2013, Hernandez Sr. decided to go out on his own, and started their family business, Bean2Bean Coffee Company.  

Fascinated by how sports, like coffee, bring people together, Hernandez Jr. earned his degree in sports management from the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University. During his junior year at Temple, his father started Bean2Bean. After a few unique career opportunities in the sports industry, Hernandez Jr. decided to apply what he learned at Temple to his family business.  

Now, Hernandez Jr. serves as the vice president of Strategic Partnerships and develops the community aspect of the company, creating partnerships with brands like French Toast Bites,  Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and more.  

“One of the reasons I wanted to get involved in the family business was to build relationships and connections within the community,” Hernandez Jr. says. 

For example, to celebrate International Coffee Day late last year, Bean2Bean Partnered with PAWS to raise money for the animals in PAWS shelters. For every bag sold, Bean2Bean donated $2.  

“Our acronym for our values is SAGE: support, artistry, generosity, and education,” Hernandez Jr. says. 

In early October 2022, the Bean2Bean team furthered its mission and joined the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI) and the Entrepreneurial Student Association (ESA) to share their collective entrepreneurial journey. Hernandez Sr. experienced all the highs and lows entrepreneurship can offer. 

His biggest piece of advice?  Keep learning about your industry.   

“You should know just as much as the people who are approaching you,” says Hernandez Sr.  

During the pandemic, many coffee shops were forced to close. That meant Bean2Bean's customer base shrunk exponentially, and they had to pivot their marketing during the pandemic to gain new customers. To do this, they handwrote and delivered over 10,000 letters to households in the Philadelphia area. 

“Our guarantee was freshly roasted coffee, delivered the next day. We are faster than Amazon in Philadelphia,” says Hernandez Jr. 

Since then, they have been building their e-commerce presence and focusing on key partnerships.  

Hernandez Jr. wants Philadelphia-based customers to know that they can rely on Bean2Bean for fresh, high-quality coffee. If you place an order through their website, expect (faster than Amazon) next day delivery.   

 You can find out more about Bean2Bean on their website. 

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