Coffee for Good Opens in Greenwich: Great Coffee with a Great Mission

Coffee for Good is now open in downtown Greenwich, and it’s not your ordinary high-end coffee shop. Sure, you can grab yourself a perfectly pulled shot of espresso or latte c/o their well trained baristas and the fine roasters at PATH Coffee in PortChester. But Coffee For Good provides much more than a daily caffeine fix for our community.

Coffee For Good was spearheaded by Greenwich resident, Deb Rogan, in partnership with Abilis, as a self-sustaining, nonprofit organization, to serve as a training platform and employer for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The coffee shop, which provides espresso based beverages, smoothies, locally sourced baked goods, as well as sandwiches and salads, gives their trainees the opportunity to succeed and be a part of the Connecticut workforce.

In fact, Coffee for Good is part of a nationwide trend of over 50 independent coffee shops in 22 states that have opened in the last few years with the objective of employing people with disabilities, a community that suffers from chronic unemployment rates of over 80%. Deb Rogan says,

“We are taking a business model that clearly works, but we are using it to create a training platform such that we can put these workers out in the community once trainees have developed the necessary workplace skills. We want to see these people succeed beyond Coffee For Good.”

Based on a recent visit to Coffee for Good, success is clearly in their future. The shop is located in the 1858 Mead House on the campus of Second Congregational Church. The historic Mead House provides a beautifully designed, sundrenched, multi space “Old World” setting, and is conveniently located in central Greenwich, with ample parking. For guests preferring to enjoy their latte al fresco, they also have plenty of lovely outdoor seating in a serene landscaped setting.

So, what’s on the menu at Coffee For Good? Rogan says,

“Our focus from the very first day has been to provide very high quality food and beverages. We want to stay as local as possible, while creating symbiotic relationships with our vendors who are aligned with our mission.”

Their coffee roaster, PATH Coffee (@pathcoffee), is based around the corner in neighboring Port Chester. A large selection of their morning pastries come from CTbites favorite, Jackie’s Empanadas (@jackies.empanadas), while salads and sandwiches are delivered daily from Greenwich’s own Meli Melo. Even the milk is sourced pretty close to home via Hudson Valley Fresh (@hudsonvalleyfresh), and when ingredients aren’t sourced nearby, it’s because they are simply excellent, including their epic hot cocoa c/o Askinosie from MO. Even the manufacturer of their elegantly designed swag supports their mission for inclusive hiring practices.

In addition to creating a lively new hub for excellent coffee, breakfast treats and lunch, all served with a smile,

“the end goal,” says Rogan, “is reaching out to possible future employers and making them aware of this dedicated, loyal and enthusiastic employee pool. These individuals are capable and excited to work, and working is so much more than just a job.”

Work provides purpose, reduces depression among this population and allows the world to be more inclusive. Additionally, given the current staffing shortages throughout the hospitality industry, this program could not have been launched at a better time.

Coffee for Good is truly a special spot. Trust me…this will be your new favorite remote workplace, and you’ll find me there most Thursdays. Go check it out and make your next cup of coffee really count.

Coffee For Good @coffeeforgoodgreenwich is open Monday through Saturday, 8am -6pm.

www.coffeeforgood.org

48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich