I went to Recreo Coffee & Roasterie on February 22nd.
This coffee shop offers high-quality coffee and has made many efforts to be environmentally friendly. The coffee beans are grown from a farm run by the owner’s family, and the area is Jinotega and Nicaragua. The mission of this coffee shop is to provide the best cup of coffee beans from farmers, make the lives of the people who come to the store more enjoyable, and build the community in different ways.
I think that one of the charm points of this coffee shop is that they divide about 35% of the money they get from selling coffee and food to the farmers who grow the coffee beans. The money is used to educate the children in Jinotega and Nicaragua and the people who work for the farmers. When I asked, “What else they do with the money, she said they donate it to the children’s communities so that they can play some supports, such as soccer and football. Also, in the coffee shop and on the website, there are pictures of children who could buy toothbrushes, jump ropes, crayons, plush toys, etc. thanks to the donations. In addition, I learned the donations is used to build a school. Then, I felt that this coffee shop is not only selling good coffee but also supporting a part of people’s lives. Furthermore, I was surprised that even the chairs in the store are chemical-free, which is an environmentally friendly thing. I was also surprised that the people who work at the farm where the coffee beans are grown get a free house, three meals a day, medical care, etc.
The theme of my group’s presentation is poverty in South Sudan, and through this field trip, I was able to find solutions like this coffee shop, where we can make people’s lives a little more comfortable by buying foods and goods made in South Sudan, even if we can’t actually go to South Sudan. After completing this research, I’m curious to know how much money is actually donated in a year. Finally, I would recommend this coffee shop to anyone who likes coffee and is interested in sustainable products. I also want everyone to go there because it is a very nice place with many chams, such as the staff is very kind, it is a relaxing place, and you can get refills on your coffee.
Haruka Yamamoto