La Columbe - Haiti Observer Blog

Four non-government organizations (NGOs) have partnered to aid coffee producers in Haiti, growing coffee beans for the export market. The Clinton and Leslois Shaw Foundations, along with La Columbe Torrefaction and Four Seasons Hotels, have revealed Four Seasons will start offering Haitian coffee on its menus. The variety chosen for inclusion on the menus is a coffee bean indigenous to mountainous areas enfolding Thiotte. La Columbe is the coffee bean wholesaler.

Part of a long-term partnership to outsource Haitian coffee to wider markets, the NGOs intend to create more employment opportunities and raise the standard of living for many Haitians as the enterprise develops new markets.

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Hoboken owners of Bwe Kafe, Evan and Dale Ryan, are capitalizing on America's fervent coffee culture to help Haiti recover from the devastation of 2010's earthquake. They started their foundation, Love for Haiti, and brainstormed for a profit-making venture to support it. When they realized a community coffee house could be successful, they drew up plans immediately. It took them a mere four months from idea to re-tooling the venue to open their business, with help from their mother, who owns the building.

Bwe Kafe, meaning "to drink coffee" in French Créole, orders its fair-trade coffee from La Columbe, who buys the coffee beans from Haiti coffee cooperatives. The coffee house showcases Haitian arts and crafts and encourages patrons to form discussion groups in its performance space.

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