We’re looking forward to introducing you to Iasia Montana-Maye. Check out our conversation below.
Iasia, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m being called to write more and to share my story more openly, especially my experiences with grief. For a long time, I was afraid to do that because speaking about it made it real. Saying “I lost my father” out loud forced me to face emotions I wasn’t ready to fully sit with, so I hid behind my coffee cart and focused on serving others.
Espressate began as a therapeutic hobby during one of the darkest periods of my life, but I kept that part of the story guarded. Now, I feel called to step out from behind the bar and into the forefront to speak honestly about grief, healing, and continuing forward even when joy feels muted.
I want to be a safe space for others navigating loss, to let them know they’re not broken for how they feel, and to help them find purpose, beauty, and meaning as they continue on—one step, and sometimes one cup, at a time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Iasia, and I’m the founder of Espressate, a mobile espresso bar based in the Raleigh-Durham area. What started as a deeply personal, therapeutic hobby during my grief journey after losing my father has grown into a brand rooted in connection, comfort, and presence.
Espressate is more than coffee, it’s about creating moments where people can pause, breathe, and feel seen. Whether we’re serving at corporate offices, community spaces, or private events, my goal is to create an experience that feels warm, intentional, and human.
Behind the scenes, I’m also working on expanding Espressate into more experiential and partnership-based offerings, while leaning more fully into storytelling, sharing how grief, healing, and purpose can coexist with entrepreneurship.
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that even in loss, we can still create something meaningful that brings people together.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was an extroverted introvert at heart, a deeply empathetic listener who found meaning in quiet connection and service. I was drawn to humanitarian work from as early as I can remember and spent time working in refugee resettlement, supporting individuals and families as they rebuilt their lives after unimaginable loss.
That chapter shaped me profoundly. It taught me the power of presence, compassion, and meeting people exactly where they are; lessons that continue to guide me today. Even though my path eventually led me into entrepreneurship, those same values remain at the core of everything I do, from how I show up in my business to how I hold space for others navigating change, grief, and transition.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh Absolutely!. After starting Espressate in 2022, our family experienced another profound loss—the passing of my mother-in-law. During that time, my husband became her caregiver, and I felt an overwhelming pull to pause the business so I could fully support him and our family.
I was ready to step away, but my husband gently reminded me that if his mom were in better health, she would be encouraging us to keep going. Facing the loss of another parent felt unimaginable, and for a moment, it was hard to see how we could move forward again.
That season reaffirmed why we pour so much into Espressate. We know firsthand what it means to need a safe space—to pause, to gather yourself, and to show up as your authentic self, even while carrying grief. That understanding is at the heart of everything we create.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is humanity, showing up with empathy, grace, and presence. We lead with the understanding that everyone is carrying something, even if you can’t see it.
At Espressate, that value is deeply intertwined with Cuban coffee culture, where coffee is an invitation to pause, connect, and be in community. It’s never just a beverage, it’s a moment of care, conversation, and belonging.
We don’t rush people, we don’t treat interactions as transactional, and we don’t separate the work from the human behind it. We protect emotional safety, honest connection, and the freedom for people to show up as they are. That value is non-negotiable and shapes how we serve, partner, and grow.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What pain do you resist facing directly?
The pain I’ve resisted facing most directly is the fear of fully sitting with loss without distraction. For a long time, I stayed busy; building, serving, creating, because movement felt safer than stillness.
Grief has a way of asking you to slow down and listen, and I didn’t always feel ready for what I might hear in those quiet moments. Learning to face that pain, to allow space for sadness, uncertainty, and unanswered questions has been one of the hardest and most transformative parts of my journey.
Now, I’m learning that facing pain doesn’t mean being consumed by it. It means honoring it, allowing it to exist, and trusting that healing can happen alongside it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://espressaterdu.com
- Instagram: espressate_rdu
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iasiamontana/
Image Credits
Morgan Crutchfield Photography, emilymcpphotography.
