Jessica Kelley’s love of horses and entrepreneurial spirit wouldn’t let her rest on weekends. In February, she launched Thoroughbred Brew. It’s coffee for a cause.
Kelley already has a successful career in supply chain management for a national juice company. “I schedule production of various juices across the U.S. and Canada for both branded and private labels.” The 2019 alumna has spent 13 years in the supply chain industry, a high-pressure field.
Her affinity for horses, however, drove her to do more. She has been riding since she was a child and now owns her “forever” horse, Delphi (aka Filly Phanatic), a retired racehorse.
“Delphi is my 5-year-old thoroughbred mare,” says Kelley. “She came to me through Turning for Home and their partner farm, Ears and Gears Stables based in NJ—organizations dedicated to giving retired racehorses safe landings and second chances. It was love at first sight. Delphi now lives her best life at Mullica Hill Farms in South Jersey.”
Kelley regularly attends horse shows on weekends and noticed that there were never any coffee vendors at the events. She bought a 1969 Red Dale Coffee Camper from Michigan in February 2025, gave it a facelift, and officially got approved by the health department to launch in May 2025. She has been rolling on the weekends ever since.
Her husband, mother, and sister help with the operation, which is now expanding its reach to include festivals, campsites, golf tournaments, farmers markets, and 4-H fairs.
Using her degree in organizational studies, Jesi applies the marketing lessons she learned by engaging her audience with creative product names. Drinks like Big Mare Energy and Barn Dog Brew are served in Giddy Up Cups.
Thoroughbred Brew advocates for the Turning for Home program by displaying informational cards outside of the trailer along with photos of Delphi from the racetrack. Kelley plans to establish monetary ways to give back to the programs that support TFH once she is on her feet with the business. She will soon begin to sell merchandise, such as caps, tee shirts, bags and mugs – products that are in the design and production phase.
Long term, she hopes to have a brick-and-mortar location in five years and perhaps establish a partnership with a racetrack or horse show venue.
“Every cup I serve carries deeper meaning,” she explains. “Delphi’s silhouette graces our company logo, and my dream is to give back to organizations that connect rescued horses with their perfect people. When customers wear our merchandise or sip from our cups, they’re supporting a mission to help more horses like Delphi find their happy endings.”
The company tag line says it all: Where every cup supports second chances and celebrates the authentic spirit—both human and equine.