Living in a Coffee Shop
Summers growing up included being woken by the sounds and smells of buttery coffee beans from the ground floor of our family’s house in Vietnam. There it was. The beautiful industrial, yet fairly small roasting machine. My elder cousins had to squat to work the machine. I watched quietly as they poured in the beans, ground the coffee, sealed the bags, loaded the moped, and drove away to deliver the beans. I was mesmerized by this little shop that could – churning out coffee that customers eagerly purchased. Running a business was something I saw as a young girl. It seemed every home in Vietnam doubled as a storefront as well.
Coffee & Rest
In the afternoons, after the hot sun passed its peak, people would emerge after a fresh shower – often in their pajamas. The streets were dotted with tiny coffee shops. Many offered sidewalk seating. What caught my eye was many of the seats faced the street rather than the table. Ideal for people watching. I recall watching people seated facing the street and just quietly soaking in the sights and sounds around them. There was something soothing about seeing adults engage in a daily slow down over a delicious Cafe Sua Da (iced coffee with condensed milk). It seemed like the most peaceful part of the day. Perhaps this is why for as long as I can recall, I love patio seating.
Coffee with Purpose
When I learned about and experienced these two coffee ventures, I was immediately drawn by their missions and backstory.
Uprooted Coffee: Southeast Asian Coffee
Thank you Uprooted Coffee for taking me back to my family’s humble coffee roasting business days in Vietnam. I was so excited to learn about your family’s coffee venture that not only supports immigrants and refugees but highlights the rich flavorful coffees from multiple Southeast Asian countries. The sampler pack was a perfect tour for the senses. My favorite coffee so far is the Bolaven Plateau from Laos. In general I found Uprooted Coffee to be one of the stronger, richer coffees I’ve had. Once you try them, you might not be able to go back to other coffees. You’ve been warned! Saengmany (one of the founders), if you’re reading this – I know it’s been more than 10 years since we’ve worked at the human services council together doing research-based community building work. I’ve always regarded you as a kind, smart person with integrity. I’m so proud of you and your family for starting this venture. Thank you for highlighting the rich coffee culture of so many Southeast Asian communities.
Street Company: Homeless Hiring Homeless
Imagine a coffee company that is co-built and run by people who are or have experienced homelessness – and it’s a well run company with their values woven throughout. They ensure their team is fully trained. They raised the funds to open their own production facility. They roast and sell their own branded coffee. Street Company describes themselves as: “We are a group of homeless people creating jobs to become self-reliant and confident again.” I’ll let you sit with that for a second. What a powerful vision. I have had the honor of working with the Executive Director Jesse Lee and the Board of Directors, as they continue to build out Street Company, a nonprofit social enterprise located in Lancaster, California. From my experience with them, they are 100% committed to staying true to the needs and experiences of the homeless, and having a well-run operation to ensure that they can provide solid job training and job opportunities to those who need it most. You can buy their coffee at Casters Coffee, or visit their website to learn more about and support them.
https://www.streetcompany.org/
Coffee Adventures
Growing up in America I wasn’t allowed to drink coffee – but my mother (being from Vietnam) would swirl a few spoonfuls of coffee into my milk anyways – a small and loving gesture. When I’d visit Vietnam, coffee was readily available for all ages. I felt a sense of calm mixed with anticipation as I watched the tiny strainer slowly drip coffee over the sweet and creamy condensed milk. My trips to Vietnam peaked my curiosity for food and how it shapes and connects communities. I’m grateful for also being able to experience coffee from the farms of Kona, Armenian coffee from my neighbors in Glendale, California, Somalian coffee from the families I tutored in college, and rich Mexican coffee in the small towns of Mexico. Wishing you an adventurous, coffee and purpose-filled life!
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