I Love Coffee, a leading artisanal coffee supplier in South Africa, distinguishes itself by championing the Deaf community through employment, specialised training, and innovative partnerships!
South Africa (09 January 2023) – I Love Coffee has emerged as a prominent player in the coffee industry, driven by a vision to become one of South Africa’s foremost suppliers of artisan roasted coffee.
The incredible organisation opened its doors in June 2016, dedicated to becoming one of the country’s leading artisanal roasted coffee suppliers, and committed to achieving this by being a force of positive change for the Deaf in South Africa. What sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to effecting positive change for the Deaf community. Currently, an astounding 70% of their workforce comprises Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, operating in 9 locations across Cape Town, Johannesburg, and London, each embodying their commitment to excellence in the culinary and coffee experience.
Beyond serving exceptional roasted coffee and food services, ‘I Love Coffee’ provides specialised skills training for the Deaf-by-Deaf trainers in Sign Language, paving the way for promising careers within the hospitality sector.
But I Love Coffee’s commitment to the Deaf community extends beyond employment opportunities.
Their innovative approach to training and development opens doors to a future where Deaf individuals can thrive in the hospitality sector. ‘I Love Coffee’ supplies coffee to the dedicated staff at Marriott International’s Regional Office in Cape Town.
“At I Love Coffee, we are passionate about our mission to empower the Deaf community and provide them with opportunities for personal and professional growth,” said Gary Hopkins and Mike Morritt-Smith, Co-Founders at I Love Coffee.
“We are honoured to work with the likes of Marriott International, who share our vision and support our journey towards making a lasting impact. Together, we are redefining what it means to be a socially responsible business.”
As part of this ongoing collaboration, Marriott International and ‘I Love Coffee’ have worked together on a range of initiatives, including training programs and awareness campaigns that support the growth and inclusion of the Deaf community.