Sometimes the motivation for getting out of bed on a dark, chilly morning is the comfort of knowing a warm cup of joe is only a short walk away. One Downingtown roaster, Cave Bird Coffee, is offering a new coffee that leaves a lasting impact beyond jump-starting your morning routine.
In 2008 at age 57, Glen Shorley went back to school and earned a Masters in Leadership Development from Penn State. After a long tenure working in finance, Glen was brewing for a new career where he could make a difference. He always had a passion for coffee and happened to meet the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda at a retreat last year.
Shortly after, he began researching how to start his own business and grew his list of contacts in Uganda. After five months of crafting the perfect blend through blind tastes amongst co-workers and in local coffee shops, Cave Bird Coffee debuted this past June.
Cave Bird Coffee goes beyond fair trade prices, skipping the usual coffee broker and paying the farmers and villages 100 percent of the proceeds. For now, Cave Bird Coffee sells two varietals of coffee, which are locally roasted every two weeks. This great tasting coffee is sold between $10-11 a pound and is available by the beans or ground.
The Cave Bird African Blend is an organic, low acid, shade grown coffee (no trees were cut down to grow it) that is blended with Ethiopian beans producing a unique flavor. The coffee farm in Uganda covers about 27-30 acres. Ugandan coffee farms typically employ the entire village and the coffee growing process is done by hand.
The Tico Tomas Costa Rican Tarazu is a single origin coffee from one of the premier places to grow coffee in south central Costa Rica. It has a very mellow, smooth flavor with hints of chocolate flavors in its beans. Next year, Cave Bird Coffee plans on adding two more coffees including the world’s first zero carbon impact coffee from Costa Rica.
The remote farming villages in Uganda often have very little access to infrastructure, communication, or sanitation. To access fresh water, an essential component of farming, villagers (most often women) trek a fourth of a mile and haul up to 40 gallons of water back. In addition to fair pay for the farmers, Cave Bird Coffee donates a portion of profits to building wells and teaching construction skills to these farm villages in Uganda. Cave Bird Coffee is expected to receive its non-profit status by next summer and one day hopes to be able to send medical support to Uganda.
This business has been a life-changing journey for Glen. For the past year and a half he’s devoted his nights, weekends and sick days to building it. He still works full-time at Vanguard, where he’s been for the past 11 years.
“It supports people who are trying to scratch a living out of the earth. They are hardworking people,” said Glen. “I’ve worked with a lot of people who are saving a lot of money for retirement and a lot of people don’t have that opportunity. I wanted to pass it along and do something outside myself.”
For now, Cave Bird Coffee can be found at JM Cigars in Exton, Smith Brothers in Downingtown and Dixie Picnic in Frazer. For updates about future roasts and locations or locations, visit their website or Facebook.
For more information about ordering this feel good coffee for your next coffee hour, fundraiser, holiday gift or bringing it to your local coffee shop, email [email protected].
Photographs courtesy of Cave Bird Coffee’s roaster Glen Shorley.
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