Benjamin Paul Camp

This is a story about Coffee That Matters (CTM), a 1-year-old coffee shop owned and operated by Phoenix Roasters (PR). Coffee is the means by which PR is committed to positively impacting local and global communities, and CTM is the next iteration of this commitment.

Shop manager, Sinclaire Holland, briefly described why this coffee matters. She said, “I think it is joy…People who enjoy being [here] and who care about each other, and that shows in the work. Customers have been invited into that joy but have also invited us into their lives, meals in their homes…they bring us cards and choose CTM because of the people. And that’s been really special.”

CTM offers a range of craft coffees, from classic lattes to simple macchiatos, as well as unique nitro-infused cold brews such as “Blonde Blueberry Basil,” “Peach Perfect,” and “Raspberry Lemonade.” A state-of-the-art double drive-thru system, featuring slow and fast lanes, further distinguishes the shop.

Director of Branding and Customer Experience, Emily Ryan, serves as the linchpin between Phoenix Roasters and Coffee That Matters. Ryan said, “Getting drinks that are consistent and excellent, at the speed and convenience of a drive-thru, in my opinion, is what sets us apart from others. You can go to ‘DD’ and you can order the same drink three days in a row and it will taste different all three times.”

Brian Holland, the founder of Phoenix Roasters, attributes everything they do to Jesus. During our interview, a customer approached and expressed gratitude for what CTM and PR are doing for the community. Holland said, “I didn't pay for that.” We laughed, and for the rest of the interview, Holland waved and smiled at people coming and going, highlighting the positive impact CTM has on its customers.

Holland explained that when Phoenix Roasters entered the coffee industry in 2008, they were unaware of the industry’s complexity and its negative impact on the communities where the beans are grown.

In 2011, Phoenix Roasters began importing coffee directly from farmers. Holland said, “On average, the American consumer is the eighth purchase of that same bean. When we realized that we had just created another layer, we had to get out of that cycle. So we were introduced to Jesus-loving indigenous farmers around the world. We interrupted seven transactions by paying them directly, and we paid them seventh-transaction money, which was the same amount we were paying here.”

Phoenix Roasters currently imports coffee beans from Panama (farmer Enoch), Guatemala (farmer Irving), Nicaragua (farming network comprised of ten pastors), and Honduras (farmers Greg and Jean). Holland noted that they are working on solidifying long-term partnerships in Ethiopia and Colombia.

According to Holland, the average coffee farmer earns between 15 and 75 cents per pound, but Phoenix Roasters pays between $3.50 and $4.00 per pound. This difference allows farmers to access education, healthcare, affordable housing, and the means to experience life, not just survive.

Five hundred words cannot capture the entire story. Coffee is just one of many commodities we often take for granted. The motto at Phoenix Roasters and Coffee That Matters is, “Life is about relationships, the rest is just details.”

Many of my lifelong relationships started with a cup of coffee. If something as profound as a relationship can begin with a cup of coffee, then who’s to say you can’t change the world with cup of coffee.

The End.

Special thanks to “The Photo Spot” for film processing.