Brewing Dreams into Reality

Milkyas Tefera grew up in Merhabete, a small town in Ethiopia, where coffee is grown in almost every backyard. His humble origins in Ethiopia to his rise as one of Toronto’s most admired café owners is a masterclass in grit and unwavering faith in community. 

For Tefera, coffee is more than a drink; it is a way of life, a daily ceremony that brings families together. "My mother brewed coffee three times a day, and she loved drinking with our neighbours," he recalls. "I loved helping her and sometimes even brewing for her. However, the conversations fascinated me the most. I could listen to their immersive stories all day," he adds. 

Tefera’s mother was his first teacher. Supporting a family of six on a modest income, she taught him how to manage money wisely and the value of hard work. "She was incredible – a true economist, even without any formal schooling," he says.

Inspired by his mother, Tefera set his sights high from a young age. From the age of 9, he would fall asleep each night reading a quote in his bedroom that read, "One day I will become a man." It served as both a promise and a reminder.

Entrepreneurship ran deep in Tefera’s blood. He began small with side hustles, such as shoe shining, selling chewing gum, and cigarettes on the streets. The experience taught him negotiation skills and patience. Eventually, he opened his own shoe factory. " I learned the value of hard work and integrity early on. I never took shortcuts or asked for favours," he shares.

Building Mofer Coffee

When Tefera immigrated to Canada, he knew exactly the kind of business he wanted to start – one that connected him to his heritage. "I could have gone into another business, but coffee felt right. It was part of my life, my history," he says.

The journey, however, was far from easy. A failed coffee import venture cost him nearly $180,000, teaching him hard lessons about cultural differences, trust, and business practices in a new country. 

"Back home, business is built on trust,” he explains. “Here, I realized I had to operate under the business rules, not just trust," he explains.

Tefera lost everything during that time, but rather than breaking apart, he rebuilt. 

"Entrepreneurship is my passion, and failing just means I get another chance,” he says, before adding, “I don’t give up easily. So I was ready to start from scratch and did."

Undeterred, the resilient visionary launched Mofer Coffee in 2016. Mofer Coffee offers hand-picked, organic Ethiopian coffee beans, both roasted and unroasted, as well as various café drinks. Most importantly, each café offers a warm and welcoming space for an authentic coffee experience. Today, Mofer Coffee has 10 locations in Toronto and employs over 60 staff members.

For Tefera, Mofer Coffee is more than a café. "I don’t want it to be grab-and-go. It should feel like home, where people can connect. We design spaces with large tables so customers can gather together and share their stories, just like my mother and her neighbours did back home,” he explains, adding that some of Mofer Coffee locations even disable Wi-Fi on weekends just to encourage social connections."

Tefera plans to expand Mofer Coffee to 99 locations across Canada and 52 in the U.S. in the next five years.

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Pushing Through Challenges and Guiding Others

Tefera openly acknowledges the challenges Black entrepreneurs face daily. One of them is their inability to get bank loans. He believes if the Black community works together, they can overcome such barriers.

"One solution is to create our own investment circles or even a Black bank," he affirms. This is Tefera’s main goal today. He also believes that Black people should take an active role in decision-making to ensure the system works for the community. 

To realize this dream, he plans to open a Black community scholarship supporting education, providing young people the tools to turn their dreams into reality.

More specifically, he is committed to empowering Black youth and newcomers. "I see young people look at me and see possibilities. I am happy with that. I want to show them that success comes from courage, determination, hard work, passion, and resilience," he says firmly.

Tefera has some advice for newcomers who want to enter into entrepreneurship, "Many arrive with big ideas, but the culture here is different,” he continues, “go to school, upgrade your skills, understand the culture and the system. Never stop learning, never settle for small wins, stay true to your values, and just keep going.” He also advises looking for opportunities that others miss, adapting to challenges, and turning setbacks into new ideas.

Additionally, Tefera is developing a seniors’ home for the Black community, which is set to open soon. 

This year, his vision and dedication were recognized with the Business Excellence Award at the Bikila Awards, honouring his leadership and community impact.

Reflecting on his journey, Tefera credits his success to the lessons his mother taught him and the support of his community. "My success isn’t mine alone," he concludes. "It’s the result of many people’s dreams, prayers, and support – starting with my mom."