The Human Bean

The Human Bean is a drive through coffee corporation that originated in Ashland, Oregon by selling drinks to customers along with its trademark of giving out a chocolate covered coffee bean to everyone who purchases a drink. The Human Bean’s mission statement includes its highest goal of continuing to hire positive and motivated individuals who are fully committed to developing a strong and enthusiastic company. The company’s colors are a classic red and white with a simple coffee cup for the logo.

The Company History

The Human Bean was created in 1998 in the town of Ashland, Oregon. When The Human Bean was started, it had only one competitor in the drive through coffee market. It then began to see the profitable success thereafter and the company decided to franchise locations throughout Southern Oregon for the next 5 years. There are now 12 corporate stores located across Oregon with plans to continue growing into the Pacific Northwest (Coffee).

Currently, there are 49 store locations spread throughout seven different states with plans for new construction on the rise. Ever since franchising started in the year 2002, The Human Bean plans on continuing to expand its locations through cities and states all over the United States (Stiles). Statistics show that the number of franchises has increased due to the positive feedback and customer appreciation. The company is continuing to growing rapidly throughout the nation, and is moving forward with building plans as well as remaining prosperous in its business, products, facilities and even its employees. With high standards on employees being able to move quickly, work efficiently, and provide a positive attitude, this company hopes to maintain a positive atmosphere and a friendly working environment.

The Creators

The two founders of The Human Bean Coffee Company are Dan Hawkins and Tom Casey. These two men set out to provide high-quality coffee in the quickest form possible, while putting people needs first and establishing strong relationships with customers, vendors and the farmers providing their coffee (Bean). The name, besides being a play on words, has no real in-depth explanation. “My mom came up with the name,” Hawkins says. “We liked it because it was a clever play on words, but it really has molded our company philosophy” (Qtd in Davis). Hawkins and Casey’s first drive-thru store was in Ashland, Oregon, and quickly grew to nine corporate locations in Southern Oregon before franchising came about in 2002. Locations have continued to open up in states such as California, Colorado, Idaho, and North Carolina with the hopes to keep on franchising (The Human Bean). Atmosphere In a time where specialty coffeehouses were approaching their prime, a small drive-thru model opened to serve the somewhat overlooked customers who possibly needed coffee the most of all. Drive- thru coffee greatly benefits mothers with small children and business men too pressed for time who are unable to stop at a coffee house between their busy schedules. The Human Bean is unlike many coffee shops in that it is an alternative to the sit down coffee house style, being one that requires a quick stop and then you’re on your way.

The Coffee Brand

The Human Bean is known for its philosophy in roasting coffee that goes beyond the exceptional coffees that many other companies brew (Coffee). The Farm Friendly Direct program enables The Human Bean to acquire Arabica coffees while at the same time supporting the farmers. This support stands vitally important in order to maintain sustainable harvesting practices and crop growth. This company promotes ethical farming practices and does all it can to protect the environment. Because the Farm Friendly Direct program believes in quality, they combine traditional roasting techniques with modern technology in order to produce fresh artisan coffee (Newton). With the concern for farmers as well as the environment, the Farm Friendly Direct program uses state of the art roasting methods, and high tech machinery that reduces the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere. “Whether you enjoy the smooth hint of berries with the bright finish of our medium-dark signature espresso roast, or the bold smoky flavor of our dark French Roast, you can take comfort knowing that The Human Bean is a socially conscious and environmentally active participant of this planet” (Coffee).

For the Espresso coffee the signature blend combines Indonesian, Central American, and African beans to create a flavorful consistency that is smooth and most commonly used in mocha's and flavored lattes. The French blend contains Indonesian in addition to Central and South American beans that are roasted to a deep black color with a bold smoky flavor often considered a “dark” roast. The Italian blend of coffee is made with Indonesian, Central American, and African beans and is roasted to a level where the flavors of the individual beans are heightened by the smokiness of the roast, bringing a bolder, more vigorous flavor to coffee. Another one of the coffees is the mocha java that combines a fruity mocha flavor with an earthy Indonesian taste, creating a blend with rich flavor, and a wine-like aroma. The Human Bean also offers a decaffeinated espresso as well as a decaffeinated French roast (Davis).

Sponsors

The Human Bean has helped support programs which go beyond helping the environment through Farm Friendly Direct. Farm Friendly Direct alone has helped sponsor the planting of 5,000 trees in Ethiopia as well as helping school programs all across the world (Davis). The Human Bean has helped establish schools in India through providing school supplies and financial aid in order to reach out to the disabled and blind. In turn, The Human Bean has been a major supporter of the H.O.P.E. program, one that stands for Hope and Opportunity for the People of Ethiopia. In Tanzania, the Farm Friendly Direct provided for the Jane Goodall lab in Kigoma by supplying lab equipment. While in Costa Rica an education system has been established in order for children to get the instruction they need. This program has also founded the shade tree reforestation program in El Salvador as well as funding the building of water treatment plants in Guatemala, to help cut the amount of diseases and to keep sanitation a top priority (Coffee).

Coffee: The Human Bean Corporation, 2008. http://www.thehumanbean.com/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=10 (16 October 2008).