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Archive for Coffee

Down to Earth Coffee Shop

Posted by krabitzmg21

· Monday, October 28th, 2024

· No Comments

Alex RoJohn has always had a passion for working. At sixteen, he started volunteering at a local coffee shop. He did this just out of excitement for working. Ironically, when he volunteered, he did not like coffee at all and never imagined he would one day own his own coffee shop. His volunteer work quickly turned into a passion for working face-to-face with customers, and he also developed a new love for coffee. In addition to his love for coffee, he developed an interest in the environment and wanted to learn more about how he could positively impact it. Through this newfound interest, he came up with the name for his coffee shop- “Down to Earth Cafe”. Alex opened his coffee shop, located in Mechanicsburg PA, in November 2022 and it has been a success ever since! The Mission of Down to Earth is to serve “quality food and beverages sourced from valued local businesses while implementing sustainable practices into their daily routine. [They] strive to create a business model that helps the environment and community around [them].” Down to Earth Cafe not only serves a large variety of drinks but they also have sandwiches, pastries, acai bowls, salads, and much more!

Alex believes that coffee shops are a great place for people to make connections with others. He hopes that Down to Earth can be that type of place for many people. He wants customers to feel a sense of calm in his shop and to also feel welcomed by the employees. Alex hopes to accomplish this by maintaining personal connections with each customer. He explains how everyone seems to be in a rush these days but he wants to slow down the busyness of life for just a few minutes when the customer walks into the door so that he can check in on them and see how their day is going.

Check out their website here!

Down To Earth Cafe

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Categories : Coffee

Innovation At Its Finest: Helping Those You Love

Posted by Carolyn Krenzel

· Tuesday, October 1st, 2024

· 2 Comments

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and a common one that effects at least 1% of people over 60 years old. Parkinson’s disease specifically causes the basial ganglia to deteriorate and so people lose the ability to control the things that area of the brain governs. The resulting symptoms are motor and non-motor but the most recognizable one is the motor symptom of tremors while the muscles are at rest which happens in about 80% of Parkinson’s cases. It is this disease that presented a problem to Lily Born’s grandfather, and 11-year-old Lily Born who developed a solution. Her grandfather was frequently spilling drinks from their cups because of his Parkinson’s symptoms. Lily experimented with moldable plastic until she came up with a design for a cup that didn’t spill. Later she made a ceramic version of the cup for her father so he could drink coffee by his laptop with peace of mind. Her father realized how useful it was and, after collaboration with a ceramic manufacturing plant in China, the kangaroo cup took off into production.

I like Lily Born’s story because she saw a real need of an individual who she loved, and that love drove her to innovation to meet that need. On the kangaroo cup website, one can see how many iterations of designs they went through before they designed a cup that didn’t spill, was comfortable to use, and stackable (picture above). These two things, problem solving and iteration, are the essence of innovation and the way Lily Born used innovation to help someone she loved fills me with hope. Hope that innovation and entrepreneurship isn’t just about making a profitable business, but about finding a way to help people and then making sure you can continue to help for the long run.

2 Comments

Categories : Beverages, Clay, Coffee, Cups, Elderly Care, Parkinson's Disease, Uncategorized

The Seiders: Breaking Through the Unbreakable Market

Posted by Reed Oakes

· Tuesday, October 1st, 2024

· 3 Comments

I will start this off with a disclaimer: it is unclear whether the Seiders brothers are “millennials,” but they have heavily impacted both the Millennial and Gen X generations. Ryan and Roy Seiders grew up in Texas, where they were avid enjoyers of the outdoors. Spending many weekends in the Texas heat catching fish, they knew there was a problem with their coolers. That is when the Seiders came up with the idea to revolutionize the cooler and drinkware market with their idea, Yeti.

The cooler and drinkware market has long been dominated by many different companies, and it is a very easy market to make your way into. However, it is a near impossible task to become the leader of that market, and stay there for over 10 years. The Seiders revolutionized the way drinkware can be personalized and classy, while still remaining completely functional. The Yeti brand has become a staple in the cooler and drinkware community, and has been regarded as the best coolers money can buy. Every year, Yeti creates something new and innovative that nobody thought would be useful or worth it, and it instantly sells out.

These brothers are so inspiring because they found a problem in their own lives, and created a solution that has helped hundreds of thousands of people. Tailgates, parties, fires, and gatherings have all been revolutionized by the Seiders brothers invention of Yeti.

3 Comments

Categories : Business, Coffee, Entrepreneurship, Marketing

Drink Coffee–Save Lives!

Posted by Gwen Graybill

· Monday, September 23rd, 2024

· 4 Comments

I don’t know that we need any extra motivation to drink coffee, but yet, knowing that your coffee purchase WILL make a difference by supporting Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC’s) might encourage you to purchase coffee from www.sevenweekscoffee.com .

Seven Weeks Coffee was founded by Anton Krecic when he was in his early 20’s. The interesting thing is that he first moved to DC to get involved in politics, but once he started down that route, he realized that he was called to put people before profits and began Seven Weeks Coffee – and he does this is several ways. I thought this was an interesting discovery, as Prof. Sweet often refers to the iteration process. Anton’s calling turned out not to be politics, but at this point in his life, selling coffee. A great example of Proverbs 16:9. (How it began.)

Redemptive entrepreneurship is something I always enjoy learning more about. Anton found a way to use our culture’s love of coffee to make a big impact.

Over 50% of their profits go directly to CPC’s. I also really appreciate how they are not just selling any kind of coffee, but that their coffee is farmed using organic practices, mold free AND they have relationships with growers and purchase coffee beans directly from these farmers. On their website they claim that they pay the farmers 300% more than necessary for fair trade coffee!! So, not only are they helping moms in crisis pregnancy situations and their precious babies, but they are also enabling farmers to realize fair profits for their labor.

I spent years volunteering at a Crisis Pregnancy Center and so that experience really helped me be exited about this company and about how innovative they are in sharing their coffee profits. I think it would a lot of fun, and motivating, to be able to raise so much money (over $500,000 ) for CPC’s. Most of us can’t write a check out for that amount, but quite a few of us might be able to raise that kind of money with an innovative idea like Seven Weeks Coffee.

Finally, did you know that at SEVEN WEEKS a baby’s heart begins beating in the womb? That is where the name Seven Weeks Coffee comes from:-)

4 Comments

Categories : Beverages, Coffee, Uncategorized

Piecing Ideas Together: Collage Coffee and Art House

Posted by Anna Scott

· Friday, November 17th, 2023

· 5 Comments

Many Grove City College students may be familiar with Collage Coffee on Grove City’s Broad Street. They may know Collage’s delicious variety of food and beverages, including coffee, tea, sandwiches, and pastries. Customers may not know the popular coffee shop was founded by Grove City graduates Joe and Emily Funte.

Neither Joe nor Emily graduated from Grove City with a business degree. After graduating with English and Music majors, the couple decided to stay in Grove City. They thought about opening a coffee shop and a storefront became available. Their church’s need for a space to meet and knowing some artists who wanted to display their artwork gave the couple the final push to open Collage Coffee and Art House.

In 2017, Joe and Emily opened Collage Coffee and Art House. To help local artists, the couple rents wall space to sell their art which builds community connection. As for the college students, the location and wonderful drinks attract them. Each season, the owners create new drink recipes to attract customers. The small shop provides a space to be surrounded by artwork as the customer enjoys his or her hand-crafted beverage.

In August 2023, Collage opened a second location, where they will receive foot traffic from the outlet malls. The second store has a kitchen where they can cook food and make drinks. While the new location does not display art on the walls, the original location still supports local artists.

Despite their lack of knowledge and experience, Joe and Emily Funte created a successful business while helping their community. They continue to appeal to customers because of their quality food and excellent locations. Collage Coffee and Art House shows how people can combine the needs they see and create a unique and thriving business.

Visit their website at: Collage Coffee

Collage Coffee and Art House | Grove City College Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation (gccentrepreneurship.com)

5 Comments

Categories : Art, Coffee

Evan Hafer: Founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company

Posted by TrainerND1

· Tuesday, October 25th, 2022

· 3 Comments

Evan Hafer is a former Green Beret in the United States Army and also did contracts for the CIA. He grew up in Idaho in a family of loggers. Everyone in his family joined the military, did their time, and then returned home to work in the forest as loggers. He followed in the footsteps of his family and joined the National Guard but after years of teenage delinquency, he decided to go to college and graduated from the University of Idaho. After he graduated, he decided to return to the military where he climbed up the ranks over 20 years eventually becoming a Green Beret where he was involved in the invasion of Iraq. He eventually became a contractor and continued to serve in the military until he began to suffer from mental and psychological problems. One thing that took his mind off of the stress of war, however, is coffee. Throughout his tenure in the military, he became infatuated with coffee and began roasting his own coffee. After he left the military, he decided he wanted to tie his love for coffee into his love for the country. In 2015, Hafer founded Black Rifle Coffee along with two other veterans, Tom Davin and Matt Best. They founded the company with the goal of supporting veterans, first responders, and law enforcement. While Black Rifle Coffee supports those who serve the nation and fall into line with certain political views, they do not endorse one party or another. Black Rifle Coffee has made the commitment to only hire veterans based on their work ethic and discipline. Hafer also made sure when he was founding the company that every purchase of his coffee would give back to veteran organizations and funds. One thing I feel young entrepreneurs can take from Evan’s story is his dedication to what he loves. As someone who has veterans in their family, Evan’s dedication to them and giving back to veterans who need it through donations and the BRCC fund is something I can stand behind fully. Not only does his company make great tasting coffee and support a great cause, he also sets a standard for all young entrepreneurs.

3 Comments

Categories : Coffee, Military, USA

Evan Hafer

Posted by CarrollBS21

· Tuesday, October 18th, 2022

· 5 Comments

The market for coffee is one that is excited and ever changing, but it can seem boring to the normal person. This is where Evan Hafer comes in. Black Rifle Coffee Company brings a new twist to how coffee is made and branded. Black Rifle Coffee is a veteran owned and operated company that strives to make great coffee for a great cause. Their website says they specialize in small batch coffee and have many different varieties of roasts and profiles. While I myself don’t usually drink coffee, many of my friends have drank Black Rifle Coffee and they love it and what the company stands for. Being a veteran owned company, many of the company’s objectives go towards serving the military, veterans and their families. In their mission statement, they have a vision for their company to hire ten thousand veterans to work and make a living outside of the military. On top of this, they have a fund called the BRCC Fund, which supports the military and first responders financially, as well as serving to help the environment. Hafer has created a truly inspiring and patriotic company that strives to help bring great coffee and great change to the United States. He is an inpsiration and shows what a little bit of ambition and a vision can do for young entrepreneurs.

5 Comments

Categories : Coffee, Uncategorized

Super Coffee: Changing the way you drink coffee

Posted by ivoryee21

· Friday, December 10th, 2021

· 4 Comments

Super Coffee, a company created in order to deliver a more health conscious, natural energy packed coffee drink with various, delicious flavors to choose from. Joradan, the youngest member of the DeCicco family believed there was a better way to serve coffee without all of the unnecessary procced sugars you find in other pre packaged coffee drinks. Super Coffee, unlike any other coffee brand at the time, Super Coffee offered a natural sugar free, MCT oil fueled alternative, which provided customers with a more natural energy on top of their daily cup of coffee. Sugar, though it may taste great, can be a bad way to start the day. Super Coffee enables people to start their day with a more energetic, healthy approach to drinking coffee.

The DeCicco brothers initially started their idea in a dorm room, in which they had many drawbacks along the way. Hoping to change the way people drink their coffee, they kept pursuing their dream. MCT oil having various benefits such as aiding digestion, improving weight loss, and boosting memory/brain functioning, this is exactly what they believed consumers needed. They relied heavily on natural, simple nutrients that fueled your body opposed to dragging you down. Today more than 410,978 people have found Super Coffee and are changing the way they drink their coffee. Statistics show that by the amount of people drinking their products over others, they have removed up to the equivalent of 175 dump trucks worth of sugar from the American diet. Sugar, being among one of the most leading causes of various illnesses in the world, trying to remove excess amounts of sugar when possible, can be very crucial.

Super Coffee today comes in many different flavors along with holiday flavors such as pumpkin and peppermint mocha as well. Find Super Coffee near you, and change the way you drink your coffee.

See the source image

4 Comments

Categories : Coffee, Healthy Lifestyle

Curly Tail Coffee

Posted by Sophia Whiteman

· Wednesday, November 24th, 2021

· 4 Comments

Curly Tail Coffee is a very cool coffee company started by a young woman named Nicole Waltenbaugh. This business started out as a coffee roasting business alone, but Nicole soon added two food trailers to the business to capitalize on the demand for coffee on the go. These little trailers sell her bags of roasted coffee, pastries and muffins, hot tea, hot chocolate, and their specially roasted hot coffee. Part of the inspiration behind starting this business was the founder’s love for animals and her passion for rescue pugs specifically. One dollar of each bag of coffee that she sells is donated to an animal rescue. Because of this, Curly Tail Coffee has been able to donate over 30,000 dollars! Nicole’s love of pugs is also where the name came from, curly tail for the curly tails of the pugs that Nicole loves so much! It also applies to the curly tails of pigs which she has two of.

Curly Tail Coffee is the perfect example of a business built out of the combination of two passions. She started with the two passions of roasting coffee and the support of rescue pugs.

This business is especially cool to me because this is in our home town of Kittanning! I love Nicole and her coffee. She often has one of her pugs or one of her pigs at the trailers when you go to visit to buy coffee.

http://www.curlytailcoffee.com/

4 Comments

Categories : Baking, Beverages, Business, Business::Entrepreneurs, Charity, Coffee, Cookies, Dogs, Food, Food Trucks, Pets