Mighty Peace Coffee is a non-profit that exports coffee from the Congo to the global specialty coffee market, rooted in peace and compassion for our humans and our planet. Swelter Coffee has been buying coffee from the Mapendo women’s coop in Southern Kivu for a few years.
I recently chatted with Jim Ngokwey, managing partner of Mighty Peace Coffee, who is native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo now living in the U.S. and walked away inspired and uplifted from our conversation. First of all, Jim has a bright, infectious laugh, is incredibly smart, and is undeniably passionate for his country's ability to thrive. He shared a bit about his perspective growing up and always hearing about the Congo’s ‘potential’, with its vast natural resources, diverse terrain, and rich soil. However, the country has suffered decades of war and exploitation through colonialism and extraction of mineral resources (to some it up very briefly). Jim grew up and made his way to the U.S. to get an education, which is where he then looked back at his country with a drive to foster economic opportunities, and reject the notion of ‘charity’.
This is where Mighty Peace Coffee (MPC) comes in. He met a few others who had been working in the development sector, and who also felt peace would come best through Congo's own economic pathways. Together they were able to see the potential of a lesser-known, yet strong coffee sector, and set out to connect Congolese producers with a greater world market. These producers are growing and processing high-quality, specialty coffees, not something the Congo had been known for. One of their partners, Linda Mugaruka, is one of the highest credentialed specialty coffee experts in the Great Lakes region of Africa, and the first female Q-Grader in the Congo. She oversees all the coffees MPC exports to ensure their quality as well as sustainable and equitable practices among the farming communities (and you can check out a short documentary about her story here!).
But, the impressive work and credentials (I barely scratch the surface) of the people behind MPC isn’t what inspires me. From our conversation, Jim emulates this notion of community and impact through what we do across the coffee supply chain. Coffee really does reach every corner of our planet, and connects all people regardless of status, race, religion, gender, etc. We all drink coffee. We all love coffee. Coffee offers us an opportunity to connect globally and locally, is ingrained in so many cultures and customs, and provides joy and motivation in our daily lives. The industry, however, is plagued with colonial exploitation that is deeply ingrained, and continues to strip our planet and its people as the future is very uncertain.
Jim is vested in growing connection and dialogue, which is the starting point of any larger wave for change. His interest is rooted in his personal connection with his country, but is broad in its vision to rebuild global supply chains that are more unilaterally equitable. It's insanely complex, yet very simple at its core.
Photo: Jim and I at the NYCoffee Fest in 2022
Its people like Jim who represent why I was drawn to the coffee industry, and give me hope to help change it, little by little, through the work we all do collectively. Next time you sip on Charlotte’s DRC, take a moment and feel gratitude to the people and the place behind that coffee, trying to make our world, and your cup, the best it can be.
