Ethiopia Ear Candy

Husband and wife team Tio and Kenzel Fallen founded Three Keys Coffee in Houston in 2019. The name references the three valves of a trumpet, a nod to the 15 years Tio spent playing the instrument, and jazz inspired aesthetics run through the branding and packaging. Tio, who holds degrees in mechanical engineering from Florida A&M and the University of Michigan, serves as coffee director and head roaster, operating on Giesen W6A and W15 roasters. Three Keys is Houston's first and only solar powered coffee roastery, with the solar installation supported by an Oatly Big Idea grant. The roastery holds Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and Smithsonian Bird Friendly certifications, and Food & Wine named it the Best Coffee Roaster in Texas in 2022. Roast Magazine selected Three Keys as a finalist in the Micro Roaster category for its 2026 Roaster of the Year awards.