the team
KAITLIN
With a degree in communications from Texas A&M, Houstonite Kaitlin O. embarked on a career in e-commerce and marketing, working for tech companies like the Houston Technology Center,, Direct Energy, and HATCH Pitch. Wanting to make each other stronger, the couple agreed to learn each other’s skills and slowly realized they each took to the opposite’s skills remarkably well. While both still participate in both sides of the company, Kaitlin is now mostly responsible for Roasting & Brand Expansion.
Xela sources direct-trade, lesser seen coffees from around the world to brew handcrafted beverages for customers, upping coffee culture in Houston and leading the way for a future wave of independent, artisan roasters in their city, where they aim to become a multi-faceted life-style brand.
BENJI Darccoboy
Dallas-born Benji began his coffee career frothing lattes and whipping up frapps at Starbucks before transitioning to Houston’s Katz Coffee where he learned all about roasting. An injury kept him from physically roasting beans, but nevertheless, he landed a job as a quality grader at Farmer Brothers Coffee and continued to hone his skills and develop his palate. Darcco’s graphics have become the retail/wholesale face of Xela, and other ventures like the 2021 Starchefs Houston Magazine cover.
Xela sources direct-trade, lesser seen coffees from around the world to brew handcrafted beverages for customers, upping coffee culture in Houston and leading the way for a future wave of independent, artisan roasters in their city, where they aim to become a multi-faceted life-style brand.