Tastemaker Richard Karno
WHERE TO FIND HIM: groundwork coffee company, a coffee-tea-community which I began in 1990 and has expanded to five retail coffee stores that brew and sell 100% organic coffees and teas. groundwork coffee is about sustainability, Fair Trade, Rain Forest Certified, Kosher. And a 48 hour roast-to-cup practice.
HOW HE GOT THERE: I owned a bookstore in Venice, CA that sold coffee and pastries. It soon became clear that the economic model for coffee had a higher ceiling than books. I bought a roaster, learned to roast, and began selling fresh-roasted sustainable coffee in bulk directly to customers through my own stores and selling the same beans and coffee blends wholesale to other coffeehouses.
WHY HE LIKES IT: I know I am selling an affordable luxury item that is healthful. Our sustainability credo means our business model promotes better environmental and economic future for our partners on the supply side.
WHAT MAKES GROUNDWORK UNIQUE: Nothing is pre-designed or fabricated. Each store is built out to reflect the space, the neighborhood, and the surrounding architecture.
ADVICE FOR COFFEE CAREER NEWBIES: There are no secrets, only different styles. The key is to identify what your customer likes and wants and provide for them while maintaining the highest quality standards.
PERFECT DAY OFF: No phones. No internet.
What do you think of this Tastemaker Profile? Share your comments with other CITYSIPPER’s below!
what’s not to like?!––––essential credo, right action, heartfully delivered and with a good triple bottom line philosophy: good for the business, good for the consumer good for the global community. keep up the good GROUNDwork.