Exploradora Coffee isn’t just a place to grab your caffeine fix. It’s a roastery, a gathering spot and a growing hub for coffee education and community—all driven by a mission that stretches from Latin America to north Mississippi.
Founded by mother-daughter duo Alison Anderson and Wade Johnson, Exploradora Coffee started as a pandemic project.
“We launched the brand online during COVID,” Johnson said. “My stepdad’s been a coffee roaster in Arizona for over 25 years, so I grew up around coffee, and we’d travel to places like Guatemala and Honduras and see these amazing women-led co-ops.”
The pair realized there was a gap in the market—very few coffee companies focused entirely on sourcing from women-owned farms.
So, they created one.
The name “Exploradora,” means scout in Spanish and it pays tribute to a beloved family dog, and not the kids’ show, “Dora the Explorer,” which is also a play on the word.
“But that’s okay that people think that it is because it helps them remember our name,” Johnson said with a light laugh.
For the first few years, the beans were roasted in Arizona by Wade’s stepfather and sold online.
But after moving to Oxford, the family opened their own roastery just over a year ago, located off North Lamar Boulevard at 463 Ryland Way, behind the former Chicory Market building.
Now, every bag of coffee is roasted on-site, with the roaster proudly front and center in the shop.
“Having the roaster up front, it helps people learn what all it takes to get that cup of coffee in your hand, and when you see the entire process happening here, as opposed to buying off the shelf somewhere, you connect with the end product a lot more. Makes you appreciate what you have in your hands,” said Helen Gearly, general manager of the Oxford location.
Customers are welcome to stop in just for a cup or grab a bag of freshly roasted beans to take home. The shop offers a rotating selection of single-origin coffees, with options from Africa, Central America and South America—all grown in equatorial, high-altitude regions ideal for cultivating high-quality coffee.
African beans tend to be more fruit-forward and bright, while coffees from Central and South America often lean toward being chocolatey, floral, or earthy, depending on the roast.
“Each one has its own character,” Geary said.
But Exploradora isn’t just about flavor profiles and brew methods. Every bag sold supports their Blue Foot Fund, which donates monthly to Springboard to Opportunities, a nonprofit in Jackson, Mississippi. Specifically, the money goes toward the Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which provides $1,000 in no-strings-attached cash each month to low-income African-American mothers for a full year.
“It was important to us to not just talk about empowerment, but to be part of something actively helping women thrive,” Johnson said.
The shop itself is a cozy blend of industrial and inviting. Comfy chairs, shared tables and low-key games like corn hole and ping pong make it a relaxed hangout.
Even when the doors are closed, you can still get your coffee fix. A self-serve honor box sits outside, stocked with fresh bags. Customers can pay by Venmo or call in a card number later.
Exploradora is also available locally at Chicory Market and Myers Apothecary, and on their online store at www.exploradoracoffee.com.
“Our favorite part so far about the evolution of Exploradora is that it went from an online brand that wasn’t always so personal, and now we have this amazing community. And that is what we always wanted,” Johnson said.
So whether you’re stopping by for a quick cup, picking up a bag for home, or curious to see a roaster in action, Exploradora Coffee is a place where the coffee tells a story—and you’re invited to be part of it.
