VAUD, Switzerland – 17g Coffee, is a non-profit coffee project consisting of 17 high school students from College Alpin Beau Soleil, and Andy Prosser, a coffee consultant with over 12 years in the coffee industry. Founded in 1910, College Alpin Beau Soleil is a private boarding school situated in the village of Villars-sur Ollon, in the Canton of Vaud. It’s a school made up of students from over 60 different nationalities, making it an exceptional opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives.
Students have been trained using the SCA education program, have been involved in sourcing green coffee, and have recently returned from an origin trip to Kenya to understand how and where coffee is grown.
There are plans for the school to purchase a roaster in the future, so that they have complete control over the entire process.
Prosser explains: “the main goal of the project is to create a bridge between origin countries and consuming countries, starting from the next generation. To facilitate this process, I focused on education and experiential learning, providing some key information in certain areas and then allowing the students to think and develop ideas for themselves.
Having been in the coffee industry for over 12 years, and consulting for many of the major brands, a key factor we need to acknowledge is more transparency and awareness through education, experience and acting decisively, rather than just talking.
Producers need access to markets and an awareness of market conditions, and our aim is to help strengthen this aspect.”
Stuart White, College Alpin Beau Soleil Principal, confirms: “We see this as a way of connecting education with authentic rather than abstract work. Students are engaged in a project of real significance, exploring sustainability, international trade, equity and service. 17g coffee is a perfect vehicle for understanding the opportunities and challenges of the real world.”
For more information or supporting the non-profit project visit www.17gcoffee.com.
