When you sit down with Q Taylor, co-founder of 8th & Roast Coffee, it doesn’t take long to realize coffee is more than just a drink for him – it’s culture, connection, and community.
“Once you get more involved in it and get to learn from it, it kind of gravitates to your insides, your soul, and it kind of speaks to you,” he says. “You see where that journey starts versus how it ends in a customer’s hands.”
Q’s journey started in Memphis, where he got his first job in hospitality at just 14, bussing tables at Paulette’s in Overton Square. From there, restaurants became a constant thread — through his time at the University of Tennessee, then to California working at the Sofitel Hotel, and later in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino.
In 2012, Q made his way to Nashville to open Sinema, a restaurant that held its own for 10 years (a place we deeply miss). That chapter eventually led him to coffee, where he and his business partner shifted their energy into creating something lasting: 8th & Roast.
Building 8th & Roast
What started as one coffee shop and roasting for two clients has now grown into six Nashville locations, two airport shops, and more than 350 wholesale clients. On top of that, you can find their beans in Kroger, Publix, and Whole Foods across the region.
Q credits that success to staying grounded. “We went from one coffee shop to roasting coffee for two clients to roasting for over 350 wholesale clients and six coffee shops — all because of how we treat people,” he said.
That care stretches all the way back to the farm. Q and his team travel to visit farmers directly, building real relationships with the people growing the beans. When traveling to places like Honduras and Costa Rica to source these rich and delicious beans, Q says: “We’re not just ordering beans online. We actually go visit these farms and really dive into it,” he said. “This isn’t for show; this is what we do.”
Lessons as an Entrepreneur
In an industry not often led by people who look like him, Q leans on three core values: knowledge, compassion, and hard work.
“If you keep those core values intact, you can grow and be successful,” he said. “Don’t forget about the people that got you to this place, because I definitely didn’t do it by myself.”
Representation matters to him. Q hopes his story shows others what’s possible. “Hopefully it just sets a positive example for people who come from the same community that I came from, and shows that there are avenues to grow and be an entrepreneur if you’ve got ideas and dreams.”
What’s Next
With Sinema now behind him, Q is focused on positioning 8th & Roast as the premier coffee company of the Southeast. “There’s no reason we can’t be. We’ve got the resources, the knowledge, the hard-working team members,” he said.
That vision includes more wholesale partnerships, introducing the brand to new communities, and reminding folks that the cafés are more than just coffee. “People forget, we’ve got great food too. Chicken biscuits, sausage biscuits, breakfast, lunch. It’s fire,” Q laughed.
But at the heart of it all is creating space where people feel connected. “If we can continue to find places where people feel like it’s community, then 8th & Roast will always want to be a part of that.”
For Q, coffee isn’t just about what’s in the cup. It’s about the journey, the people, and the culture that bring it all together. And in every sip at 8th & Roast, you can taste that story.
Photography + Video Credit: Elle Danielle
To get more guides and stories of the people behind the culture and soul of Nashville, subscribe to our weekly newsletter HERE.
