Lately, I've been spending a little extra time reflecting on some of my favorite local spaces and places. The last few months have made all of us contemplate home and our surroundings, sometimes with frustration and sometimes with gratitude. I'm leaning into the gratitude. Maine is a beautiful place to live, with natural beauty that's almost indescribable and the constant opportunity to find serenity on the open water. But what has really elevated me over the last few months are the people that share this place as home. Walking down the street to friendly greetings and stopping into local spots for familiar comforts have taken on even greater importance.
Rwanda Bean is one of the places I love. Not only is the coffee great, the culture is inspiring. Founder Mike Mwenedata's philosophy that 'the richest lives are often shaped by the struggle to survive' certainly resonates in these times. Locally, Rwanda Bean roasts premium, hand-harvested Bourbon Arabica coffee and offers it through custom subscriptions or brewed to perfection alongside savories and sweets. But a world away, Rwanda Bean channels direct support to the coffee farmers supplying their product. By sharing the profits from coffee sales and providing healthcare and education within the farming communities, Rwanda Bean is serving up brighter futures alongside my quarantine caffeine.
'Hope is brewing' at Rwanda Bean and you can bet I'm here for it.