What is your position in the coffee industry?

coffee shop owner

Where are you located? ( City and Country )

Clinton, MA USA

How many years have you been in the industry?

8

If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?

maybe

Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.

We are a unique social enterprise Espresso Cafe and Gift Shop that is a project of the non-profit organization The Polus Center for Social and Economic Development, Inc. Proceeds from our cafe support people living in coffee growing regions in Latin America who have been injured by landmines. We sell handicrafts made by people living in the coffeelands and other fair trade items made by vulnerable people around the world. We train and employ people with developmental and physical disabilities in our cafe.

What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?

We travel to Peru, Colombia and Nicaragua on a regular basis. We're hoping to get to Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam) soon!

About Me:

I am the Chief Operating Officer for the Polus Center and it was my vision to open the cafe as a way to support our Coffeelands Trust project and provide people with disabilities meaningful work. Dare I admit that I don't drink coffee? But I love great tea, which we also serve at our cafe!

About My Company:

The Polus Center was founded in 1979 to support people with developmental disabilities to leave institutions to live and work in the community. Besides working with landmine victims in developing countries, we also support people in Massachusetts and NH to live with families or independently.

What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?

The passion people feel about their work, and the sense of community. I love attending SCAA conferences and seeing how much people love what they do!

Website:

http://www.coffeelandscafe.org