A Conversation with Pam & Robert

Recently, Pam and Robert Smith asked me some questions about my coffee truck and what we are about. I wanted to share this with you so that you can see a bit of my heart for the company. -Krisy

Q: ​Why did you start this business?

I began dreaming of a coffee 5 years ago, looking for ways I could reconcile business and scripture verses urging us to spend ourselves on behalf of the poor, fatherless and oppressed.  I like coffee, knew people fellowshipped around the coffee table and thought it would be a good way to start a dialog. I am still adamant that the Lord who provides the beans would require excellence in the growing, roasting and delivery of coffee.

Q: What is unique about what you are doing… why would people want to buy YOUR product ?

My product(s) through Oh-Pressed, are gospel conscience products.   Doing good to all men, especially the body of believers through the distribution of their products.  Giving a sustainable wage to my brothers and sisters

Q: What do you hope your customers walk away with after doing business with you?  

An awareness that they can make an excellent and meaningful purchase.  Shifting their consumption slightly to fund causes they are passionate about namely furthering the Gospel of Jesus by their purchase. By that, I mean that coffee is something that most Americans drink. I myself am a coffee-holic, and this is a way that we can make a difference in the world by simply drinking a different type of coffee. I also hope that they have a unique experience by buying coffee off of a coffee truck. I feel that it is a much more intimate experience when buying from a truck. It's more of a conversation and a face to face interaction than giving your order, waiting for your cup and walking out. It's more of human interaction.

​Q: What is unique about your coffee source?
​ Does it have a story? 

Our coffee has an amazing story! First, the coffee source (both growers and importer/roasters) are Pastors that have formed relationships over the years.  They use coffee as a vehicle to fund their churches and the churches they plant! Our supplier, Phoenix Community Roasters, is literally in a church building and is roasted in house. As for the growers, because the price paid is many times higher than through a corporate structure, the cycle of relief that the church offers to those growers is exponential! Our growers are able to hire people in their local communities that would otherwise have been paid significantly less. It truly is people helping people through coffee! Fair-trade is often times a very sensitive subject, as there have been articles written about how "fair trade" isn't always necessarily fair. The structure that our growers have set up is sustainable and truly ends the cycle of poverty. You can check out a story about the Caballero family here