About

Founded in 2019, Three Keys is a craft coffee roastery based out of Houston, TX. The name is inspired by the valves of the trumpet, which has been the instrument of choice for some of the most influential jazz musicians and composers. Similarly, Three Keys Coffee speaks a language that’s sophisticated yet accessible to everyone who’s willing to slow down and share a cup.

Tio Fallen, Co-Founder / Head Roaster

Preferred Brew: Long Black or Central American Single-Origin Drip

Favorite Jazz Song: It Never Entered My Mind by Miles Davis

What does Mechanical Engineering have to do with coffee roasting? Turns out--everything. A series of calculations and adjustments involving heat transfer, airflow, humidity, barometric pressure, and ambient temperature all work together to kickstart a Maillard reaction required to take grassy raw coffee beans to their palatable roasted goodness. Is your head spinning yet? Coffee roasting is both an art AND a science. With our head roaster being a musician and engineer, he's got you covered on everything from Thelonius to Thermodynamics.

Kenzel Fallen, Co-Founder

Preferred Brew: Iced Oat Milk Latte or East African Single-Origin Pourover

Favorite Jazz Song: In a Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

Kenzel's affinity for coffee grew in lockstep with the number of stamps on her passport. Having traveled to 28 countries, including 6 coffee-producing regions (and yes she drank Luwak in Bali!), her love of a good local brew is overshadowed only by her wanderlust. When she's not mitigating corporate banking risk or chasing after the couple's two young sons, Zane and Kai, she's tending to the logistical needs of their other baby, Three Keys of course.

Alisher Kamalov, Assistant Roaster

Preferred Brew: Cortado or East African Single Origin Pourover

Favorite Jazz Song: La Mer by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli

Alisher comes to us from far-off Kazakhstan, by way of HTX, and brings a shared philosophy of coffee as a medium for self-expression. Whether it is through music, the spoken word, visual arts, or any other creative outlet, he believes that coffee can be both a catalyst and a common ground (pun intended) for communicating those ideas. With his multicultural roots, nerdy passion for coffee, and admiration of music, he brings both a unique and shared perspective to our Three Keys family. If you don’t see him behind our Giesen roaster or labeling/bagging coffee, you’ll find him serving up drinks at some local cafes and playing tabletop games.

A person with black hair looks to his left. He's wearing a chambray shirt and a hat, and is smiling at something or someone out of frame.

Bethany Letoto, Head of Growth and Marketing

Preferred Brew: Filter coffee from Ecuador or a bangin’ espresso

Favorite Jazz Song: Maiden Voyage / P. Bop – Herbie Hancock

Bethany started making coffee at the tender age of 18 and (kinda) never stopped. After working her way through various roles in the industry, from barista and lead trainer to roaster (and everything in between,) she took some time to learn more about wine and food after placing 5th in the finals of the 2017 United States Barista Competition. After a short break, she’s back in coffee and brings along an extensive network and a love for connecting people with each other. You can find her pulling shots in Honolulu or on her patio making pottery with her one year old daughter, Gabi, and three year old dog, Pōhaku.

A dog sits and smiles on the right, and a white woman with glasses sits and smiles back at the dog on the right. They're sitting in front of a colorful graffiti wall. It looks like they're both laughing at a joke.

How We Roast

True to the artisan nature that typifies Three Keys, our roaster machine, is hand-built, reliable, and innovative.

Made of solid cast iron and steel, the Giesen W6 is often used in roasting competitions thanks to the sturdy design and control settings, allowing for a better end-product. Three Keys utilizes Giesen's proprietary profiling technology to produce unique, high-quality, consistently flavorful coffees.

Click the image to see a current lineup of coffees roasted on our Giesen.

Explore our Coffee via Sound, Sight, and Taste

It's no coincidence that we describe both food and music with "notes".

Vibe with us on Social Media: #ThreeKeysCoffee