Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


May 1, 2025

CONTACTS:

Sei Kidau

Rasta Barista, Co-owner

608-239-3639 | Sei@rastabarista.com

Rasta Barista Café Brings Jamaican Coffee Culture to Madison’s South Side


Grand Opening Celebration Set for May 5, 2025, at the Black Business Hub

Madison, WI — May 1, 2025 — Rasta Barista Café will officially open the doors to its flagship location at 2352 S. Park Street, Suite 101, on Monday, May 5, with a grand opening celebration from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy music, giveaways, complimentary samples, and a first look at an authentic Jamaican café experience unlike anything else in the region.


Located inside the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub, Rasta Barista is among the few cafés in the United States to serve Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee by the cup, in addition to offering it for retail purchase. Known for its mild flavor, smooth finish, and exceptional quality, Jamaican Blue Mountain is often regarded as one of the finest coffees in the world.


“Rasta Barista is more than a café — it’s a cultural expression,” said Melissa Kidau, founder of Rasta Barista Café. “We’re celebrating Jamaica’s rich coffee tradition, island hospitality, and bold flavors — and we’re excited to share that with the Madison community.”


The café’s menu offers a fusion of bold espresso drinks and island favorites like the signature Rastaccino, coconut latte, sorrel (hibiscus) tea, ginger beer, flatbread pizza, and island-inspired pastries. The space itself is designed to reflect Jamaica’s vibrant spirit, filled with reggae-infused décor, art, and good vibes.


Grand Opening Highlights:

  • The first 50 guests receive an exclusive Rasta Barista gift.
  • Live reggae music and prize giveaways
  • Complimentary blue mountain coffee samples
  • Meet the founders and learn about Jamaican coffee culture
Facebook Event Button

For event updates, visit the event page on Facebook and click “Going”. To learn more, visit www.rastabarista.com or @therastabarista on Instagram and Facebook.

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About The Urban League of Greater Madison

The Urban League of Greater Madison is part of a national movement dedicated to empowering Black and other under-served communities through programs and services, advocacy and civil rights, and community engagement activities. Urban League’s work is aimed at increasing opportunity and eliminating racial disparities in education, economic well-being, housing, and other quality-of-life factors.


About The Black Business Hub & Black Business Hub Accelerator Program

The Black Business Hub is set to become the region's first place-based, Black-led enterprise center devoted to incubating, accelerating, and networking Black and other entrepreneurs of color. The Hub is both a physical space and an ecosystem of business development services. It is a 4-story state of the art building located at the southern gateway into Madison's capital city. The Hub includes a wide range of spaces including retail storefronts, small office spaces, co-working spaces, pop-up spaces, a rentable commercial kitchen, and much more. It also includes on-site economic and small business development agencies.