A Little About the curator susan l. kee & How Art Expressions Café Came to Life.

Susan Kee, an Underwriter/Mortgage Finance Professional with over 30 years of experience, shares how the journey to coffee began.

Art and Banking, I’m told, are expressed from opposite sides of the brain. All I know is that I’ve loved coffee for as long as I can remember. But it isn’t just the flavor—it’s the moments it created. The conversations it held. The healing it invited.

In 2012, I hosted my first Real Women Real Talk live Roundtable in Frederick, Maryland. It was a three-night gathering for women to experience rest, restoration, and real conversation. An event held annually throughout the DMV area. That is where the idea for Art Expressions Café was born.

At our meet-and-greet on opening night, I wanted to give women a space to freely express the art within them, because I truly believe everyone holds a unique creative expression. Whether through reading an excerpt from a book, sharing poetry, singing a song, or showcasing a handmade creation, Art Expressions Café became that space. No invitation required—just authenticity and a desire to share. I’ve always said: when we do what we love, it becomes a form of art. We are all created by God, and we are each a divine expression of Him in the earth.

From that one night of jazz, coffee, charcuterie, and soul-stirring conversation, something beautiful brewed. I launched a podcast called Conversations Over Coffee, followed by a book of the same name. Because truly, coffee is present in life’s most intimate moments. It sits with us in celebration, in grief, in deep talk, and in quiet reflection. Coffee is the universal language for “The Talk.”

Fully believing that conversation and coffee go hand in hand, I decided it was only fitting to offer coffee curated by me in collaboration with a professional roaster. After extensive research and thoughtful consideration, I connected with Jacob Asher Galbraith, founder of Asher’s Coffee Beans in Roanoke, VA.

Jacob launched Asher’s Coffee in 2020 and serves as head roaster, focusing on quality, consistency, and small-batch craftsmanship. Before stepping into the coffee world, he was a sports nutrition chef, working with teams such as the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Football Team. His passion for fine food and drink, combined with his belief that what we put into our bodies affects how we perform, now guides the way he roasts coffee.

At Asher’s, beans are artistically driven, sustainably sourced, and roasted fresh, ensuring every cup is both flavorful and intentional. That is why Art Expressions Café proudly offers coffee roasted in partnership with Jacob—coffee that pairs beautifully with every conversation, gathering, or quiet personal moment.

“We believe every cup of coffee can stir a conversation—and every conversation can impact change. That’s the heart of Art Expressions Café.”