'Closer Look' guests gather at Bankhead Coffee to discuss workforce development on Atlanta’s Westside

Kat Taylor, the owner of Bankhead Coffee, stands in front of the coffee shop’s storefront. (LaShawn Hudson/ WABE)

Kat Taylor moved to Grove Park on Atlanta’s Westside about five years ago. She says the historically Black community was amazing, but the community had been left unloved for a very long time. She often found herself having to travel outside of her neighborhood for a good cup of coffee.

While working remotely for her government job during the pandemic, Taylor got the idea to launch her own coffee brand, HOT COFFEE. She said the pandemic was part of her drive to start the business.

“In my former positions and jobs, I traveled all across the world, and I tried coffee everywhere,” said Taylor, the owner of Bankhead Coffee. “I was like, Atlanta needs this type of coffee, this type of gourmet coffee, in this type of community.”