2118 James St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
BELLINGHAM , WA 982258273
We at Moka Joe have a passion for coffee, the farmers that grow our coffee and the people who drink it. It is our mission to roast 100%Fair Trade Organic coffee. Our commitment to Fair Trade practices improves the quality of the lives of our farmers and promotes environmental sustainability.
In 2001 Moka Joe began roasting one pound at a time in the garage with gross sales of $6,000. Two years later we purchased and remodeled an older home into a commercial building (we were careful to leave some of the original charm and the front is now home to a unique woman owned coffee shop). With a larger roaster at the new location we increased our roasting volume to 10,000 pounds a month and our gross sales to $625,000. I have been the roaster, the packer and delivery person. It has been my pleasure to slowly turn those duties over to our equally passionate employees. The wicker delivery basket (which has been replaced by two delivery vans) sits near my desk as a reminder of my humble beginnings.
In the summer of 2006 with a group of five other roasters, my oldest daughter and I traveled the rugged roads to the mountains of Peru. Our goal was to connect the coffee farmer to our daily cup. We were part of a documentary about Cafe Femenino called "Strong Coffee Film." Cafe Femenino's mission is to empower women coffee farmers to own their land and overcome severe poverty and domestic abuse. The program now includes thousands of women in six countries.
Locally, we donate 2% of the sales of this coffee to a women's shelter.
From this experience I left with the smiles of the women and their determination to succeed. Every time their burlap bags of coffee arrive at our roastery, I am reminded of their success in the face of great odds.
Our strategy has always been wholesale through grocery stores, cafes, drive throughs. We have accomplished that without outside sales. To reach our goal of over one million dollars we signed on with a leading Seattle distributor who sought us out because of our quality and certifications. They plan to double our sales within one year and then triple that. Even with this economy, people still have to have their coffee.
We are presently working with The Clean Water Foundation of Seattle to bring "Coffee for Clean Water" to the marketplace. Proceeds of this coffee go directly to fund portable water filtration systems. www.mokajoe.com
Key Stats
- Started In: 2001
- Number of Employees: 5 - 9
- Locations: BELLINGHAM, WA
- Primary Industry: