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For years I’ve been a loyal Community Coffee customer. I’m sure if you’re a regular reader, you’ve caught on to that. (Thank you for reading my constant babbling; please do continue.) As a little girl, I remember climbing into my grandmother’s lap on Sunday mornings. The family would sit around the table, while I sat with my grandmother waiting for a sip of the hot, dark roasted drink in front of her. I would occasionally glance at the paper in front of her, but my mind was focused on tasting the strong black coffee she would share with me. I know it sounds a lot like a Folgers commercial, but I promise it’s the truth. And it didn’t stunt my growth.

Since then, I’ve been addicted. Although it may seem cheesy, all my family memories have coffee in the background, making Community a part of my family by default. Since we’re family, I even overlook the times that CC’s burns my coffee because the new barista hasn’t really figured out the science of brewing the espresso. And I would know all about it, since I make at least two trips a week for either a chocolate Mochassippi, no whipped cream, or an iced mocha in varying sizes. With all the sappy, unconditional coffee love I spread around, you can imagine the girlish delight I felt when given the opportunity to tour Community Coffee’s plant in Port Allen last week.

I’ve never done research on coffee or the processes involved, so I didn’t know what to expect. The biggest drawback was the hairnet I had to wear, but for good reason, of course. My hair safely tucked inside my hairnet, I got to see the whole coffee process. It starts with the beans arrival, still green, all the way through roasting to a certain temperature to obtain the perfect flavor, to packaging into the familiar red bags I know and love. Stacked from floor to ceiling, I was surrounded by bags and bags of coffee. The smell was delightful and reminiscent of my grandmother’s house. Even though I was giddy like a schoolgirl over touring the plant, I was surprised with another overwhelming experience, giving me yet another reason to love my coffee.

The tour was given to welcome a 28-year-old woman from Rwanda named Gemima Mukashyaka. At 16, Mukashyaka and two of her younger sisters were orphaned as a result of the genocide that killed 800,000 and deeply divided the African nation. She made it her responsibility to take care of her surviving sisters by reviving her family’s coffee farm. She eventually joined a cooperative that helps Rwandan farmers get their coffee to market, and is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The program is called the Partnership for Enhancing Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages. Community learned about the cooperative through PEARL, and started buying some of its coffee in 2002.

You can find Mukashyaka’s beans, as well as other beans from the cooperative, in Hotel Blend, Crescent City Blend and Louisiana Blend.

What was most touching and inspiring about seeing Mukashyaka stroll around the plant with her interpreter (and the media) was her humility. After enduring so much more than we can understand, she has become successful, yet remains unassuming. She graciously thanked Community for the opportunity she’s been given. Not only has this given her the chance to succeed, it’s helping her country overcome its struggles, giving separate tribes a chance to work together without fighting.

I left with an incredible feeling, knowing that the odds of meeting a woman that strong and inspiring are rare. Knowing that all these years I’ve supported a company supporting her and people like her is refreshing. Idealistic as it may seem, it’s nice to think that with each pound of coffee I buy, I’m helping families like Mukashyaka’s, and her country. And how nice to know that it’s my Community that insists on helping.