Introduction
Viverra Specialty Coffee is a start-up artisan coffee enterprise with social and ethical visions. My objective is to bring to Switzerland the rich flavours of coffee from the Philippines islands, while supporting farmers to earn better salaries and realize educational projects. More specifically, I would like to establish a coffee-gallery that serves coffee that adheres to the principles of fair trade, explores different cultures of its preparation and provides space for local artists.
Details of My Project
Imagine a coffee shop warm and welcoming, the smell of different coffee been flavours are filling the room and the walls display pictures, photographs and sculptures of local artists as well as hundreds of books, from Dostoyevski to Asimov and Murakami - a place to be and indulge the sweetness of contemplation. At the same time – other side of the world – there are coffee farmers finally receiving a sufficient remuneration for their hard but traditional labour through fair trade.
This is the dream. And here is how.
First of all, Viverra Specialty Coffee is a start-up artisan coffee enterprise with social and ethical visions. It adheres to the principle of equitable and ethical trading. By purchasing green coffee beans directly from the farmers at a price determine by them, Viverra Coffee helps the farmers to earn more by avoiding middlemen in the supply chain. It partners with local cooperative to implement social projects that will benefit their community. My vision is to provide scholarship to children of coffee farmers in the future by setting aside part of the profit (i.e. determined by the volume of coffee beans purchased).
Viverra Coffee's trust is to provide freshly-roasted coffee. I never roast to stock. I roast what is needed within a week. In this way, the flavour of coffee is conserved. Viverra Coffee are made of single-origin – not a melange of coffee beans coming from different sources, which is a common practice by large coffee companies. Single origin means that each coffee we serve can be traced back to a single geographic location or farm, allowing you to enjoy the unique characteristics of different regions.
I already started the ground works for this project. I established a small coffee roasting facility where I roast personally hand-picked coffee beans from different villages in the (country). I sell freshly-roasted coffee through internet and some small shops.
However, selling online has its limitation. Although all the necessary structures are in place, the supply chains is in place and the business model is working, our client reach remains limited. I want to create much more awareness for good, high quality coffee and most importantly, its ethical production.
For this reason, I want to open a coffee shop. This would not only increase Viverra Coffee's client reach, but it will also allow me to serve freshly-brewed coffee. My goal is to establish a coffee bar that explores different cultures of coffee preparation. It is a coffee house where coffee will be prepared with care, served with pride and enjoyed with indulgent pleasure. It is a café where one can also savour homemade pastries and sandwiches. It is a place where one can sit down and relax, have a place to catch up with friends or colleagues, and read books and newspaper.
This coffee house is also about art, passion and creativity. I would like to invite local artist to display their works in the café. My goal is to produce at least one unique art exhibit a month, which encompass a wide spectrum of styles, mediums and expression, such as paintings, photographs and sculpture by emerging and established artists.
My target opening date is autumn 2014.
Your help in realizing this dream project is greatly appreciated.
The money pledged would go towards:
- Acquiring the espresso machine and kitchen equipements
- Furnishing the space
- Start up and preliminary operation costs (materials, first month rent, caution)
How can you contribute?
1) On the right side of the page, click "Boost this project".
2) Select which kind of "Goodies" you want to receive
3) Select your payment method.
If the project doesn't raise at least CHF32,000, you will be reimbursed and you will not receive any goodies.
Please check our reward system for "Boosters"
