Yield Coffee

I’ve always partnered with the phrase “Coffee Ministry”. After starting work in specialty coffee, I knew that I wasn’t just “working in coffee”. I was in the business of reconciliation. In my case, that took place at a car wash in Mason, Ohio, where Joseph’s Cup can be found. But it began before I ever stepped behind the counter.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul describes The Ministry of Reconciliation. Verses 17-20 describe it:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

The “Ministry of Coffee” can be viewed as partnering with God and the ministry we are appointed to. You’re entrusted to the same ministry. That can be said of all of God’s children: we are called to and entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. If you’re partnering with God and acting as an ambassador, allowing the Lord to make an appeal through you, whether you’re piloting a plane or a student ministry at a church, “The Ministry of Coffee” is less about coffee and more about the relationships you are cultivating.

In college, coffee was the “meeting point”. Even people who didn’t like coffee would be free to meet for a cup. What was in the cup? Maybe far from coffee. But we sat, paying homage to The Green Lady, and by the time we reached the bottom of whatever we were drinking, we were sad it was gone and our hearts were softer towards one another.

The impact of coffee on my relationships was undeniable. It created opportunities for my relationships to go deeper and be strengthened. My heart became giddy for the intimacy that came from having coffee with someone. It’s a selfless business, coffee, in that it is motivated by serving others with an enjoyable experience.

I got connected with one of the founders of a local roaster in Cincinnati who I thought reflected “Coffee Ministry” well; excelling in both ministry and in coffee.

I had the honor of meeting Derek Garde at Joseph’s Cup and I wanted to share the story of a local business that is making a global impact.*

*this is not a paid advertisement or promotion

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Yield Coffee Roasters. Cincinnati, Ohio.

It’s simple. Yield Coffee started with one goal: to make an impact. Through coffee, Yield wanted to give the community a tangible way to make a difference in the lives of others.

Derek Garde, the Director of Coffee and a founder of Yield Coffee worked as a full-time missionary and nurse at Amigos for Christ in Nicaragua. At Yield, his focus is on the quality of coffee, as well as the relationships with the farmers, wholesale partners, and the community.

The beans that Yield roasts is an intentional decision made to ensure the best quality and to partner with change for their community.

“From our selection of beans we are enabling farmers and producers to impact change in their families, cities, and communities.”

The sustainable projects are influenced by personal experience and travel between the three team members at Yield. The organizations are chosen selectively with a list of requirements to ensure they are making the best investment. Yield strives to use their money ethically and in a way that will empower others.

“10% of our profit directly funds sustainable projects that are impacting the lives of vulnerable people without access to clean water, sanitation, basic healthcare, or education. By purchasing Yield Coffee you are actively choosing to impact the lives of people around the world. From the ground up, we work intimately with grassroots organizations that are transforming the lives of local people in holistic and sustainable ways. Because of the relationships that we are building through specialty coffee more people are achieving basic healthcare, clean water, adequate nutrition, a viable income, and life-changing education.”

One way that Yield supports and helps sustain farmers and their employees is by purchasing their coffee above market value, allowing them to pay their workers fairly for their work.

Yield’s Café Diego single origin coffee comes from a coffee farm in Matagalpa, Nicaragua and farmer Don Diego Chavarria. The Yield team has visited his coffee farm and spent time with Diego and his family several times. It is through visits like this, and building relationships with the farmers and their families, that Yield finds its long-term partners.

“Café Diego is a double impact coffee because this coffee is transforming Nicaragua by supporting Diego and his family plant and sustain 40+ Christian churches in the rural mountains of Matagalpa … Diego has seen lives entirely transformed by the love of Jesus through his work in the coffee industry.”

One of Yield’s current projects is partnering directly with Amigos for Christ in La Grecia, Nicaragua. Since 2017, Yield has provided modern bathrooms for 12 families.

Amigos for Christ says,

“There are thousands of opportunities a year to be a good neighbor (vecino) in Nicaragua – where we highly value personal connection. After all, our work is all about people.”

Both Yield Coffee and Amigos for Christ emphasize that their motivation behind what they do is people-focused and relies on relationships with others.

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Reconciliation can be defined as simply as

“the restoration of friendly relations.”

Similar: reuniting, harmonizing

Opposite: estrangement, alienation, feud, incompatibility

With this definition in mind, Yield embodies reconciliation at its core. Their mission to connect people and build relationships through coffee, while simultaneously supporting their mission, is a reflection of harmony and unification of people (local and global).

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“We are making an impact on every level, beyond the coffee chain.”

The heart behind Yield Coffee extends further than pursuing excellence in specialty coffee. Their heart for coffee is partnered with our appointed ministry. As a result, a good cup of coffee is not the only benefit a consumer receives by partnering with Yield and purchasing their product. Every consumer becomes a true partner with the shared mission to change lives through specialty coffee, reaching Nicaragua and partnering with the local coffee farmers, and reaching families in need by contributing to their healthcare, clean water, nutrition, income, and education.

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“We can’t do this without you. We have to do this together. And together we’re making a difference.”

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Connect with Yield on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yieldcoffee/ Read more about Yield, their mission, and their team on their website: https://www.yieldcoffee.com

Learn more about their partner, Amigos for Christ, and Nicaragua: https://amigosforchrist.org

Support Yield and its partners by buying their coffee: https://www.yieldcoffee.com/collections/all-products