About Ascension Coffee

Craft Coffee
Wine + Food

Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

We are a collection of coffee and culinary artisans proudly sharing our passion, craft, and expertise! We invite you to order a bag of specialty coffee, sourced with care and roasted with love, and we look forward to serving you at any of our locations in the DFW area.

Founded in 2012, Ascension Coffee proudly opened its first café in the Design District and continues to be a pioneer of specialty coffee in North Texas. At Ascension cafes, we strive to create warm and relaxed spaces that everyone can call their own. Guests are welcome to enjoy delightful artisanal breakfast and lunch offerings paired with curated wines and craft coffee beverages!

Jessica Keenan

President & Head of Coffee

A certified Q Arabica Grader, Jessica oversees green coffee purchases for Ascension as well as managing quality assurance for the organization. She joined Ascension Coffee as Managing Director of Ascension Coffee Roasters in 2021 and now serves as CEO and Brand President.

Jessica has spent her career working with coffee and specialty foods across the United States, and travelling to coffee farms around the globe. Her dedication to supply chain sustainability includes ensuring future job and food security for coffee producing partners to living wages for baristas.

“As consumer awareness around specialty coffee increases, we have a unique opportunity to connect communities of producing partners directly with our own, validating the interdependence of the human experience and creating investment in a shared future.”

Jason Connelly

Executive Chef & Culinary Director

Jason joined Ascension Coffee as Director of Culinary and Executive Chef in 2021, after serving as the Executive Sous then Executive Chef of the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas.

His culinary journey began at Baltimore International Culinary College and then Renaissance Marriott Hotel in downtown Baltimore. Jason quickly rose from cook to lead cook, supervisor, assistant sous chef, and sous chef. Jason's rich background in culinary arts spans from leading teams of catering events for 2,000+ guests to sourcing local ingredients and cultivating his own herb gardens and a 16-year career across seven Marriott restaurants across Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, and Arizona. Originally, Jason is a proud native of Chester, Pennsylvania and was raised in nearby Wilmington, Delaware.

Alex Jacob

Head Coffee Roaster

Alex joined Ascension Coffee in 2019, starting as an apprentice under the guidance of Russell Hayward, the founder of Ascension. As Head Roaster, Alex is instrumental in leading daily coffee operations and equitable, sustainable green coffee sourcing. He assists in all formulations, roasts and cuppings as Ascension Coffee continuously improves its quality and love for coffee.

His insatiable interest in the coffee industry started after he earned master's degrees in Public Health and Public Administration at Texas Tech University's Health Sciences Center. Alex started in coffee at Gold Stripe Coffee Roasters in Lubbock, TX, where his background in biochemistry brought him from honing his customer service and barista skills over to the roasting team where he discovered his passion for the complexities of coffee roasting, flavor, development and brewing.

Mark Jezek

Sales & Marketing Manager

Mark’s journey into marketing began with a passion for storytelling and strategy, skills he now uses to grow Ascension’s presence and impact. His work is rooted in spreading awareness of the quality of the coffee and the relationships Ascension builds with coffee producers worldwide.

Originally from central-Texas, Mark and his family now call Dallas home. Previously, Mark spent four years as a Senior Digital Strategist at a Dallas-based PR firm, where he worked with CPG and restaurant brands to develop and execute digital strategies, from enhancing web platforms to crafting impactful social media campaigns.

Domingo Hernandez

Barista Training Lead

Domingo Hernandez became a member of Ascension in 2022 and has been concentrated exploring the intricate science behind crafting an exceptional cup of coffee.

Beginning his journey as a barista at the Design District café, Domingo quickly grew into the Lead Barista position. In his current role, Domingo oversees the training of baristas across all Ascension cafés, establishing standards and guidelines to ensure that every guest enjoys a remarkable coffee experience.

Prior to his time at Ascension, Domingo honed his skills as a bartender and private-event coordinator with a national movie house and eatery. It was during this time that he discovered his passion for craft drinks that naturally extended to specialty coffee. This enthusiasm led him to accept a position at both Ascension Coffee Roasters where he further refined his barista skills and deepened his understanding of the science behind a great cup of coffee.

Michael DeLeon

Roastery Production Manager

Michael joined Ascension Coffee as a barista at the 84 Points location, now Ascension Coffee Addison, and quickly rose to Assistant Manager. His background in the service industry, including time spent as a line cook, sparked a passion for food and coffee that made him a perfect fit for Ascension’s team.

Now serving as Roastery Production Manager, Michael oversees the day-to-day operations of the roastery, ensuring orders are fulfilled efficiently and managing Ascension’s wholesale program. His hands-on approach and dedication to quality make him an invaluable part of the team.

Guest Experience

With six locations across the DFW metroplex, Ascension Coffee provides an ideal spot for guests to enjoy craft coffee + wine + a chef-curated menu focused on full-service breakfast and lunch. Join us anytime whether you are passing through the area or based right here in our home base of Dallas, Texas.

Visit Our Locations

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