It is always such a pleasure to speak to Melissa Green, founder and owner of Southern, Sweet & Sassy Coffee. She speaks my love language: coffee.

She is such a fun, ambitious person! She is driven and focused; she is also very knowledgable about her products and her company. But even more than this, she is a retired military spouse, veteran, and mother who has a mission to make her company, “the coffee company for the military family.”

Veteran to Milspouse to Business Owner

Melissa was in the U.S. Navy, which is where she met her husband. She left service while her husband continued his active-duty career. They have four children and currently call South Carolina home (for now!). When I asked her about how she went from the Navy to the owner of a coffee company, she answered that she always knew she wanted to work for herself while the coffee part came from a love of the beverage.

She knew she what she wanted: a company with great coffee that catered to military spouses and families.

There are plenty of veteran-owned coffee companies, roasters, and growers, but Melissa noticed that few were military spouse owned or marketed towards the entire family. With an official vision, “to support US Military Families & Veterans around the world, and to create meaningful relationships and partnerships through our shared love of coffee,” Southern, Sweet & Sassy was born.

I was introduced to Melissa and her company last year through an AMSE networking event. I tried her coffee and loved it. So many different flavors, sizes, and options to choose from! My personal favorite: cinnabun. Their online storefront offers 11 blends, 14 flavored coffees, single origin, K-cups, sample packs, merchandise, and even wholesale options. They also offer a coffee subscription service. You can #subscribetoyourmornings with fresh roasted coffee delivered every 1-4 weeks!

With so many products and customizations to choose from and a clean, professional storefront and buying experience, I assumed she had been in business for years. But I learned that Southern, Sweet & Sassy was founded only a year ago! And while she partners with a professional roaster, she is a one-woman shop. She balances life and work like most of us do: work happens in the evenings and weekends and even though it is challenging, she loves it.

All this makes Melissa, her drive, and her company even more impressive.

The Future for Southern, Sweet & Sassy

Even with this massive initial success, numerous features in publications like CNBC and Cane Bay Living, partnerships with multiple military affiliated organizations, and other accolade under her belt, Melissa is not slowing down.

She recently announced the launch of Rise Above Coffee, another coffee company under the Southern, Sweet & Sassy umbrella. This is a company geared towards the LGBTQ+ community and is something dear to Melissa’s heart. The mission of this company is to provide coffee while also giving back to the community; every sale will also donate to a selected non-profit each month.

Southern, Sweet & Sassy will also be available in Exchange locations soon! It will start out at East Coast locations, and Melissa hopes to expand worldwide someday. I cannot wait for the day that I stop at my local Exchange and see this brand on the shelf!

In the meantime, head over to their website to try their coffee or grab a mug today! I recommend a sampler pack so you can see what blends/flavors you like best. From one coffee addict to another, I know you will love Melissa and everything she puts together!