Think Global, Buy Local: Enjoying a Drink at One Line Coffee
It’s the beginning of January; new classes have begun, and everyone here is once again studying. If you are waking up early, staying up late, or warming up from the cold winter weather, there is a good chance you are enjoying some coffee or tea. Columbus features many popular coffee shops and every area has its own local favorites; but, one local coffee shop roasts top-quality coffee and has an interesting story of engaging with their global supply chain.
One Line Coffee-- now at two locations: in the Short North and at Capital Square-- is passionate about sourcing and sustainability. One Line was started by a father and son who wanted to know where the coffee they were roasting came from. They believe, “If all parts of the supply chain aren’t beneficial to the people and land involved, then the end product is not sustainable. That’s it. Simple as that.”
But it wasn't enough to know where the coffee was grown. One Line launched an investigative mission to find out if the farmer was paid a good price-- if the pickers where treated fairly, if the mills operated enough to stay open, etc. Due to this seemingly daunting mission for a local business, the One Line owners dusted off the passports and made it their first goal to travel to the point of origin for as many aspects of the supply chain as they could visit. One Line continues to travel internationally as often as possible and now has relationships with importers who understand and support One Line’s mission.
This company is a prime example of two important things that Fisher students can strive to emulate: first, the environment, every step in the the supply chain, and the customer share mutual dependency; and second, that local action can successfully engage (and I dare say be a catalyst) in the global environment. The good news for us here at Fisher is that a made to order cup is right down High Street.