Barista job training program

Refuge Coffee is a nonprofit job training program. We use coffee shops and catering operations as classrooms. Each year, we employ 10–15 refugee and immigrant trainees in paid, full-time positions on a rolling basis. This is not a simulation. It's real work. With real customers. For real pay.

Trainees earn wages for: Customer-facing shifts, Classroom instruction, Workforce development training. Learning happens during the workday. That means trainees practice English with customers daily, gain professional skills in real time, and build confidence in high-volume environments.

Since 2015, we've trained 55 baristas from 18 countries. More than 70 percent of our full-time staff are resettled refugees or immigrants, including former trainees that have moved their way up into management positions. Over $1 million is invested directly into training each year.

We focus on long-term flourishing. Not short-term placement. Our program is built around four commitments: Pay generously without adding stress to a new refugee's experience; Foster meaningful relationships and true community belonging; Provide layered English learning through daily interaction and structured instruction; Honor the dignity and leadership of refugee neighbors by including them as drivers of the mission.

Each trainee receives as needed: Professional barista instruction in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association; Hands-on restaurant and catering operations experience; Customer service training; Food safety education and ServSafe certification; GED or ESOL instructor matching as needed; Resume preparation and job search support near program completion; Daily coaching from managers; Monthly targeted training sessions; Quarterly Coffee Summits with advanced training and exposure to local employers; Annual Performance Reviews.