ABOUT US
RICA's Founders: Conner & Kevin
Why RICA Cold Brew Was Founded
Conner and Kevin met working together in a fast-paced office environment where cold brew quickly became part of their daily routine. What started as a shared habit turned into an ongoing obsession. They comparing brands at their desks, debating flavor and strength, and wondering why so many ready-to-drink cold brews felt forgettable. Before long, they started brewing their own, experimenting relentlessly with different coffee beans, grind sizes, and methods in pursuit of something smoother, bolder, and more intentional than anything they could buy.
As they went deeper, one thing became impossible to ignore: Mexico was missing from the spotlight. Despite being one of the world’s great coffee-producing countries, Mexican coffee remains underrepresented in the global conversation. RICA was built to help change that by elevating Mexican coffee with the respect, care, and craftsmanship it deserves, and to prove that cold brew doesn’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience.
Conner Young: Co-founder, Product & Operations
Conner is the architect behind RICA Cold Brew. With a background in home brewing beer and wine, his passion for process and experimentation naturally evolved into cold brew coffee. He brings a rare blend of craftsmanship and operational rigor, pairing hands-on product development with deep expertise in supply chain management and e-commerce.
Obsessed with flavor balance, smoothness, and strength, Conner led the development of RICA’s core cold brew and created the recipes for the Chiapas Chocolate and Veracruz Vanilla cold brew lattes. A natural leader and lifelong entrepreneur, he is driven by a constant pursuit of improvement and will continue to lead RICA’s product innovation as the brand evolves.
Kevin Wellis: Co-founder, Brand & Growth
Kevin leads brand vision, marketing, and storytelling at RICA Cold Brew. With a strong background in digital marketing and e-commerce, he previously managed an 8-figure annual paid media budget while working in e-commerce alongside Conner. A longtime cold brew fanatic, RICA represents the intersection of his passion for coffee and his drive to build meaningful brands.
While fluent in performance marketing, Kevin believes the strongest brands are built beyond ads through organic storytelling, social media, local community, and earned attention. He leads RICA’s brand narrative with the goal of standing out in a crowded market and building a company people genuinely connect with through authenticity, consistency, and emotional connection.