Owners and baristas from coffee shops across the United States – including one from Murphy – recently traveled to Siguatepeque, Honduras, on a service trip organized by Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea.
The journey was an inspiring and life-changing experience about making a difference in the world through coffee and community. The group supported Serve Hope International, which provides safe homes, clean water, schools and other benefits to the Siguatepeque community.
During the trip, the group of 13 helped build a house for the Flores family of five that included two rooms, a shower, a latrine and a filtration bucket to provide potable drinking water.
“Crimson Cup’s Focus on Good initiatives allow us to form meaningful relationships and help others with every cup we pour,” founder and President Greg Ubert said. “We are proud to involve independent coffee shops in positively impacting coffee-growing communities.”
Since 2011, Crimson Cup has regularly visited the Siguatepeque region to consult with farmers, co-op managers, and wet mill operators on improving coffee quality and life for growers and their workers. In addition, the company has invested in raised drying beds for the local co-op, equipment and lesson plans for local schools, and community improvement projects through Serve Hope.
Crimson Cup Coffee buyer Dave Eldridge led the owners and staff from independently owned coffee shops in Ohio, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Iowa and Montana. The Crimson Cup team also included Janie Brooks, who handles marketing and product research and development, and Shannon Walker, who packages Crimson Cup Coffee.
Participants from independent coffee houses included:
- Baristas Hannah Reager and Kimmy Bridgham from 5 Bean Coffee in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
- Owner Pav Templeton and daughter Ever Templeton from Rare Bird Emporium in Murphy.
- Owner Shawn Peterson and daughter Katya Peterson from Moose Junction Coffee and Pizza, Helena, Mont.
- Pastor Matt Love and wife Julie of The Well Coffee House in Boston.
- Owners Kat and Pat Bissell from The Coffee Attic and Book Cellar in Iowa Falls, Iowa.
The trip had a lasting impact on the Flores family, the Crimson Cup team and the independent coffee shop owners.
“The exciting thing was that everyone on the trip was looking to make a difference,” Eldridge said.
Walker said the trip gave her a stronger appreciation for the coffee she packages, the people who grow it, and Crimson Cup’s investment in coffee-growing communities. Brooks observed that happiness springs from simple things.
“A roof over your head with a few rooms, clean water and the love of a family is more than enough,” she said. “Serve Hope’s impact can be felt throughout this entire community by providing these simple luxuries we often take for granted.”
For the coffee shop owners and baristas, firsthand involvement in Crimson Cup’s Focus on Good initiatives demonstrated how Crimson Cup and hundreds of independent coffee shops across the U.S. create positive change through coffee.
Hannah Reager said she believes talking about the trip will get customers excited about the sourcing of the Crimson Cup coffee served at 5 Bean Coffee.
“They will be more eager to buy our coffee knowing the impact buying our beans will make on the coffee farmers,” she said.
Pav Templeton with Rare Bird Emporium agreed.
“Having a deeper understanding of the story of our coffee can be valuable in marketing our brand and products,” he said.
“It was a privilege to get to know the different programs created with Serve Hope partners, and to see some of the people whose lives have been changed,” Templeton added. “We also enjoyed meeting other coffee shop owners and swapping ideas and crazy coffee shop stories over beers in the evening.”