Making coffee inclusive - our new KM workspace
Now begins what we have been preparing for ten months. Under the leadership of Jael Lützelschwab, we are building a new work area that aims to make access to coffee knowledge and coffee as a field of work more barrier-free. There are various focus areas we are concentrating on.
- Coffee Specialist Training
- Inclusive workplaces in our own company
- More barrier-free coffee knowledge online and in our courses
Coffee Specialist Training
Together with Café Einzigartig and Wohnheim Wydehöfli in Arlesheim, we are conducting a six-month pilot coffee training course for people with support needs. The goal is to provide trainees with extensive, holistic, theoretical, and practical knowledge about coffee and to train them as baristas. The pilot phase of the training takes place with a closed group and will be evaluated with caregivers after six months. In the pilot phase, participants from Wohnheim Wydehöfli are taking part. Afterward, the course will be opened and held regularly.
Upon completion of the training, the foundation will be laid for obtaining a job in the gastronomy sector. In cooperation with various partner institutions, entry into the workforce and placement will be supported.
The course will be led by our barista trainer Jael Lützelschwab and social pedagogue Claudia Glaser.
The pilot project is financed by Kaffeemacher:innen and Wydehöfli.
Update: In the meantime, the training has been completed and the Baz reported.
Inclusive Workplaces in Our Company
As a company, we have initiated a process where we question ourselves in all working groups about where we can create inclusive workplaces. We have visited various companies and projects that are exemplary in this regard, such as Restaurant Tanne in Schaffhausen. We want to learn from them and reorganize our work in the roastery, gastronomy, and other areas.
Recently, we were hesitant about new gastronomy projects. Now we have decided to establish a new café that will have a strong inclusive character from the outset. This is still a plan for the future, and we will report more on it later.
More Barrier-Free Coffee Knowledge
Our coffee courses are occasionally attended by people with visual or hearing impairments. In these courses, we have learned a lot about how to communicate better, more clearly, more slowly, or more structured. We know that our YouTube videos are watched by at least one person who listens to the content and does not see it. This person has asked us to describe the texture of materials a bit more.
We have decided to become more aware of all content and to also create some videos and courses that specifically remove barriers. We have some ideas for this and are open to suggestions and collaborations.
A first step is that we consistently publish all future videos with clear German subtitles.
Another step is that with Jael Lützelschwab, we now have a contact person on our team who works with us to reflect and to ensure that we improve.
Jael has years of experience as a barista in our cafés, has successfully competed in coffee championships, and is part of our gastronomic management. Most recently, she co-managed the establishment of our shop in Switzerland.
Contact for cooperation inquiries, suggestions, and interest: jael.luetzelschwab@kaffeemacher.ch
