321 Coffee – Hillsborough St.

321 Coffee runs this shop on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, one of several locations for a specialty coffee company that roasts its own beans. Espresso drinks and brewed coffee are the daily business, and bags of the roasts are sold to take home.

What sets it apart is who is behind the counter. The shops and the roastery are staffed by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the company describes meaningful employment as its whole mission. Spending money here supports more than 50 of those employees directly.

What to know

• Brew guides are published for people making the coffee at home.
• Coffee carts and catering can be booked for events.
• Sustainability is part of how the coffee is sourced.
• The company hires regularly as it grows.
• A product locator shows which stores stock the beans.