Founded in 2015, 1951 Coffee Company is a non-profit specialty coffee organization that promotes the well-being of the refugee community in the United States by providing job training and employment to refugees, asylees, and special immigrant visa holders while educating the surrounding community about refugee life and issues
Through their Barista Training Program, employment at their café, and ongoing job placement support, they break the barriers refugees and asylees face in pursuing the financial stability needed to have self-determination. Program participants learn more than just how to make quality coffee. They learn vocational English skills, customer service standards, U.S. workplace expectations and responsibilities, in addition to receiving ongoing support as they embark on new career paths.
Meet Evelyn
Evelyn is originally from Guatemala. She grew up in one of the largest coffee-growing regions in the world. As a child, she remembers seeing the coffee trees blossom and cover the hills with beautiful white flowers. Forced to flee Guatemala while in high school, she completed a newcomer’s high school program in the SF Bay Area. After graduation, Evelyn joined 1951 Coffee in 2020 just before the pandemic. First working as a Barista, she developed a deep passion for coffee service as it evoked memories of home. Evelyn soon became their Lead Barista before taking over as their Barista Training Program Manager in August of 2022. Today Evelyn is teaching their newest program participants about coffee production and service.
