Eric Resch of Stone Creek Coffee tries to make sure that “giri,” an ancient Japanese code of honor meaning social obligation, is a part of Stone Creek’s mission as a specialty coffee provider.
According to Resch, when he started Stone Creek Coffee in 1993, he wanted to not only create amazing coffee and turn a profit, but also to create a company that treated its employees, coffee providers and farmers with respect, and to provide for their local communities.
For every pound of Brazilian coffee sold at their stores, Stone Creek donates 10 cents to a school on the farm where the coffee is grown. For the holiday season, instead of presenting customers with gifts, they provided more than over 1,000 meals to the Brazilian farmers and their families, Resch said.
Stone Creek also partners with nonprofits in the southeastern Wisconsin area, particularly in the neighborhoods and communities that support their stores.
The specialty coffee company’s dedication to social obligation fits in with another mission of the coffee provider, which is “sipping slowly.” The phrase carries a double meaning, he said.
“It certainly means be careful, it’s hot,” Resch said. “But we also try to promote a lifestyle within our company and the community, creating a good balance between working hard and taking time to slow down, sip our amazing coffee slowly and enjoy the rest of your life.”
Address: 422 N. Fifth St., Milwaukee
Web Site: www.stonecreekcoffee.com
Industry: Specialty coffee
Employees: 90
