This week on social media, we’ve been sharing bits and pieces about what Loam Coffee is about. Yes, we are a coffee roasting company, and proudly so. Coffee is our love and passion. And yet, at the same time, we also are passionate about what coffee can do. This can be summed up as the “common good.” What exactly is that? Why does it matter to us here at Loam Coffee? Let me share with you …
By definition, the common good “is either what is shared and beneficial for all or most members of a given community.” While there are numerous other definitions, this one works. In other words, it’s about investing in the well-being of others. Interestingly, those within the coffee industry are cued in on this. There is a continual movement towards paying farmers a healthy living wage and seeing the lives improved of people and places where coffee is grown. The whole chain from crop to cup needs is crucial.
For Loam Coffee, we like to think of the double bottom line. With any business, the bottom line (profits) is essential. We cannot exist without selling coffee. Everyone gets this. The double bottom line is about social impact. This is also how we measure our success. You see, the more profitable we are in selling coffee and other goods, the more we can turn around and fund our social objectives.
Loam Coffee is a coffee roasting company that invests in incubating startups and creating jobs in overlooked communities. When you buy our coffee and goods, you can feel good about your purchase, not only for the quality of our products but also because you’re helping change lives and invest in overlooked communities. How? This is what we share in our mission statement …
Loam Coffee exists to build community among mountain bikers through roasting and selling coffee, hosting and catering events, and creating space to come together. We will leverage our assets and relationships within the cycling community to increase economic opportunities and income of people in declining communities through setting up cafes, building trails and cycling infrastructure, and incubating new businesses.
HERE'S OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PLAN IN ACTION
We're excited to share with you the steps that Loam Coffee is taking to fulfill its mission to invest in incubating startups and creating jobs in overlooked communities.
STEP 1 - ROAST AND SELL COFFEE TO RAISE FUNDS - We are a for-profit business, meaning we care deeply about our bottom line. The more successful we are with our bottom line, the more money we’ll have to fund our initiatives in overlooked communities. This means selling specialty coffee and Loam Coffee merchandise and gear. We are initially roasting coffee in Portland, Oregon.
STEP 2 - ESTABLISH A COFFEE ROASTERY AND CAFE SPACE - The second step in our business plan is to open a cafe and coffee roastery in an undisclosed overlooked community. Why? To create space in the town for a commercial venture, hire locals, and begin roasting coffee to cater to and serve communities throughout that region. That means we’ll be roasting coffee in a couple of different locations once we’re up and running. Also, to have a cafe and a public face to meet more of our neighbors throughout the area.
STEP 3 - CREATE A LOCAL STARTUP INCUBATOR - The end goal of Loam Coffee is not simply about coffee. Instead, it’s about creating jobs. It’s also more than that. We don’t naively assume it’s our role to swoop in and begin selling specialty coffee, and everything will be solved. What lights our fires are helping, training, and funding everyday people (like us) who have a dream to start and run their own businesses. That’s why we’ll help incubate and catalyze new startups in overlooked communities.
Thank you for reading this, as I was looking forward to sharing more with you about the direction Loam Coffee is moving in, especially since reacquiring the brand back in March. While many moving parts are happening behind the scenes, I appreciate each of you for going on this adventure with us.
