Mission Texarkana Inc. has fresh roasted coffee available to purchase for those java lovers in and around Texarkana.
The program provides job training for those who need it and in the future will serve as a fundraiser for the organization.
"I had begun roasting my own coffee 10 years ago and one day I was thinking about opportunities we could provide for the homeless and impoverished where they could learn a skill and have a sustainable income through that skill. I just thought Texarkana didn't have a coffee roastery that I knew of. I'll teach them how to roast the beans. They'll learn that skill, learn to develop a business plan to sell it and advertising and distribution," said Cody Howard, Mission Texarkana executive director.
Mission Texarkana began roasting coffee in August 2018.
"It's gone well. We've had a favorable response in the community. Everyone has enjoyed the coffee so far," Howard said.
Green coffee beans are roasted in 3 pound batches.
"We can roast three pounds every 15 minutes," he said. "We usually only roast 3 pound batches because that keeps the coffee consistent. The beans will heat at a different rate if you have fewer in there."
Fresh roasted coffee beans blow away coffee that comes off of store shelves.
"There is no comparison in the taste of the coffee. It's a night and day difference. When you roast the beans, they're only fresh for about a week or two after you roast them. Most beans you find on shelves at super markets have been roasted a month or several months," Howard said.
For businesses and churches who would like a signature cup of Joe, Mission Texarkana can accommodate them.
"We can make different kinds of blends. If a company, organization or church would like own their own blend and name it after their organization, we can do that. We're blending a few different origins of coffee together," Howard said.
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Mission Texarkana uses coffee with origins from Guatemala, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Colombia and more.
"We get different origins every few months," Howard said. "We order them from different companies that work with fair trade farms. Part of our goal is to offer our guys a sustainable skill and income. It's very important to us that we get beans from a source where the farmers and workers are being treated fairly so we only get them from fair trade farms where we know the farmers are being paid well."
Mission Texarkana coffee is sold in 1 pound bags, either as whole beans or ground upon request. Bags are $12.
"Right now a portion of the profits are going back into funding the start up and another portion is going to housing. We're looking at housing the guys that are producing the coffee," Howard said.
Four people are employed in the coffee roasting program.
"As the business grows we'll bring in more guys," Howard said.
Coffee can be ordered through Mission Texarkana's Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].
"We're working on a website but it's not live yet. Within a few weeks we're going to take it live and people will be able to order different origins of coffee on it," Howard said.
For more information call Mission Texarkana at 903-792-1301.