Black, decaf, espresso, cappuccino, cortado, Americano, café con leche, drip, latte, or caramel mocha frappuccino extra whip cream. Whatever your preference, many of us start our day the same way: with a cup of coffee. However, how often do we genuinely contemplate the origins of this beloved bean and the individuals who labor to produce it?
The answer to that question is, well, complicated. You see, unlike many of the foods we consume daily, coffee is mainly produced by and sourced from numerous small farmers worldwide, making it uniquely difficult to trace. To put it into perspective, one of the world’s most renowned coffee chains (yes, that one) obtains its coffee from 400,000 farmers in 30 different countries. No wonder we don’t know!
For this reason, Notre Dame has deliberately chosen to offer our students, faculty, and staff traceable, distinctive, and flavorful coffee brands. But, more importantly, we have made the decision to support the compassionate and caring humans behind them.
Here are their stories….
Importin’ Joe's Ethiopian Coffee
Available in North and South Dining Halls, Importin’ Joe’s takes pride in sourcing the highest quality specialty coffee beans from the indigenous lands of Ethiopia, the motherland of Arabica coffee. The combination of high elevations and mineral-rich volcanic soil in these regions contributes to its rich and robust flavors which are historically recognized for their unique fruity, chocolatey, sweet, and juicy notes.
Located in Northern Indiana and co-founded by husband and wife Joseph and Afomia Luten, Importin’ Joe’s is a minority black and woman-owned third-wave coffee company focused on providing an impactful and culturally diverse coffee experience.
By allocating 30% of their profit to social change initiatives, Importin’ Joe’s has made significant contributions to the improvement of marginalized and impoverished communities. Some of their most recent accomplishments include donating three thousand cups of coffee to local area teachers, making substantial contributions to address the ongoing issue of child homelessness in East Africa, and instigating positive change in the local socio-economic landscape. As their mantra goes, Importin’ Joe’s Ethiopian Coffee is coffee with compassion.
Grounds for Hounds
Serving humanity's best friend (and our office staff), Grounds for Hounds believes that “great coffee can fuel greater purpose." For them, that greater purpose is supporting rescue initiatives and organizations providing a second chance for pups of all shapes and sizes. By donating 20% of the company’s profit to some of the most innovative animal rescue & welfare organizations throughout the country, Grounds for Hounds is giving these animals a second chance at life.
While the company holds a mission to eliminate unnecessary animal euthanasia and enhance animal welfare, their passion resides in their product. Grounds for Hounds is dedicated to providing organic, fully traceable, and 100% Arabica coffee. Their small-batch blends and single-origin coffees offer a rich, savory, and full-bodied experience, spanning from light and bright to smoky and sweet. Giving coffee lovers and animal enthusiasts a cup they can rely on.
Paramount Coffee Co.: El Recreo Coffee Estate
Served in the campus’ retail locations of Crossings, Decio Café, Charron Family Commons, and Three Leaf Express Catering. El Recreo’s Coffee not only made its way into our bellies but also into our hearts.
The El Recreo hacienda stands as a powerful example of the impact that meaningful partnerships and a commitment to doing good can have on a community. Through the One BIGG Island in Space (OBIIS) initiative, which utilizes a farm-direct purchasing process, Paramount Coffee Co. and the University of Notre Dame have had the privilege of supporting this project. This direct approach allows producers to sell their coffee at prices that ensure profits, taking their full operational costs into account before agreeing on a price. This partnership has not only provided financial stability to farmers and their families but has also fostered economic and social sustainability within the community, empowering them to achieve new levels of prosperity.
Las Hermanas
Under the leadership of SOPPEXCCA manager Fatima Ismael, Las Hermanas has grown into a powerful coalition of 180 women coffee producers, driven by a shared vision to establish a unique identity and platform for female farmers in Jinotega, Nicaragua. Their unwavering dedication goes beyond empowerment, as they aspire to utilize this remarkable initiative to provide essential healthcare, scholarships, and educational opportunities to all those involved. Through their collective efforts, Las Hermanas is sowing the seeds of transformation and paving the way for a brighter future, not only for the participating women but for their entire community. With every cup of coffee brewed, they are igniting change and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
This delicious brew can be found at Hagerty Family Cafe, Cafe J at The Morris Inn, and through Three Leaf Catering.