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A veteran-owned tea and coffee company that started in a Georgia dining room is working to create jobs for former service members while building a brand rooted in American history and values.
Iraq War veteran Roger Owens founded Star Spangled Tea & Coffee Co. with his wife, Aimee Owens, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea came after Roger Owens, a longtime coffee drinker, developed a taste for tea.
“My son and my wife got me drinking tea, and I was really not a tea drinker, I was more of a coffee guy,” Roger Owens told FOX Business.
After discovering hibiscus tea, the couple searched online for an American-themed and veteran-owned tea company. They came up empty-handed.
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“We kind of looked at each other and decided to start our own,” he said.
The Columbus, Georgia-based company launched nearly four years ago and initially operated from the couple’s dining room.
“We didn’t know anything about tea to begin with,” Roger Owens said. “… Trying to start a business during COVID was not easy.”
Star Spangled Tea & Coffee now sells premium coffee and loose-leaf teas inspired by American history, landmarks and regional flavors.
Its products include blends featuring Georgia peaches and Florida key limes, along with teas and coffees tied to national parks and historic sites.
According to the company’s website, its products are sold at museums, presidential libraries, state parks, historic destinations and specialty retailers.
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It also ships nationwide, including to Alaska, Hawaii and military addresses overseas.
Roger Owens said the business places a strong emphasis on hiring veterans and helping them regain the sense of teamwork and purpose they may have lost after leaving the military.
“You’re used to being [part of] a team and then when you get out of the military, you’re alone other than your family, and it’s like somebody pulled the carpet out from under you,” Roger Owens said.
“We want veterans to find more than just a job,” he added. “We’re looking for them to find purpose.”
The company expanded into coffee last year after repeated requests from customers.
It has also developed several patriotic products through its work with Freedom 250, including a “Great American Road Trip” light-roast coffee blend linked to the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
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Other products include a cherry blossom-inspired White House blend and a history-inspired Liberty Tea.
Roger Owens said the company’s long-term vision extends beyond selling tea and coffee.
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“We’re not just building another coffee company,” he said. “We’re building America’s next destination brand.”
He hopes to open stores across the country where customers can gather over tea or coffee and “celebrate what unites us.” The company is seeking investors and strategic partners to help open locations, expand its product line and hire more veterans.
“We didn’t want politics involved in this, we wanted it to be for all Americans,” Roger Owens said.
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