Partners Creating Community

In the small town of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, a nonprofit is redefining what it means to run a business. Pear Tree Coffee Roasters, part of Partners Creating Community (PCC), isn’t just about coffee; it’s about people. PCC's mission is to provide meaningful, artisan employment and living support to adults who are neurodivergent, intellectually disabled, and/or face mental health challenges. As an enterprise of PCC that holds fast to this mission, Pear Tree built a thriving coffee program rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and storytelling.

“We Can Roast Exactly What We Need” – Freshness On Demand

For Pear Tree, freshness has always been a highlight of their coffee, and something Kelsey says they “pride themselves in.” With Bellwether’s small-batch roasting capabilities, they ensure that every roast is tailored to perfection and delivered at its peak. “The small-batch approach is great for us,” Kelsey explains, “because we can roast exactly what we need each week, and it goes out the door at a good pace.” This on-demand model not only keeps their coffee fresh but also allows them to maintain the quality and consistency that their community has come to love. She tells her customers “The roast that you're buying today, we just did a couple of days ago. It's not some huge batch we made a few weeks ago that we're still working through–It was just roasted. And our customers definitely see that and appreciate it.” 

For Kelsey, it’s about more than freshness; it’s about connection. “It’s an added benefit and draw for our customers knowing that everything was made in-house by our residents,” she explains. “Essentially, it’s like we’re making it for you—it’s a cool, personal element.”

“Each Batch Is Super Consistent” – Precision That Powers Purpose

When the pandemic closed Pear Tree’s first small coffee shop in 2020, Kelsey and her team made a bold decision to start roasting. “We were like, ‘Let’s pivot. Let’s start roasting,’” Kelsey recalls. “I had no roasting experience, so that was also part of why we started with the Bellwether. It's really accessible for our folks to work with, but also I had no idea what I was doing. Thankfully with the Bellwether, it was really easy to just jump in, get started, and learn as we went.” 

The roaster’s plug-and-play setup also allowed Pear Tree to start roasting without the need for costly and complicated modifications, which fits perfectly into their setup—a garage attached to a residential house—where zoning and fire codes limited other options. “We really weren’t sure with our setting if we’d be able to do a drum roaster because of the exhaust,” Kelsey explains. “We were thinking about our roaster options and then Bellwether approached us and it was a pretty quick yes,” she says. 

By using Bellwether’s technology, one of the key advantages of Pear Tree Coffee's small-batch roasting model is the consistency they’re able to achieve. “Each batch is super consistent,” Kelsey says. But it goes beyond quality—it makes their operations fit seamlessly with their mission. “A lot of our residents just come to roast for about an hour shift each,” she explains. The small-batch approach aligns perfectly, allowing them to complete one or two roasts, package, and blend within that window. “With the small-batch approach, there's the intentionality behind it,” Kelsey adds, “not only because of the quality but also the fact that it provides jobs for more people. It works really well for us.”

“We’ve Been Growing and Selling More Coffee” – Efficiency Meets Expansion

Running a nonprofit business comes with unique challenges, but Pear Tree has found ways to thrive while staying aligned with its mission. Since adopting Bellwether’s roasting solution, Kelsey has been able to scale their operations without losing focus on the people who make this all possible. “Even though we are a small nonprofit, we've been growing and selling more coffee,” Kelsey says. “When the Shop Roaster came out, especially with the autoloader, we were like, ‘Oh, let's do this because it's so easy to use. You just plug it in and go.” 

With a larger roasting capacity provided by Bellwether’s Shop Roaster, they’ve scaled their operations without sacrificing quality or accessibility. This flexibility supports their dual mission: serving excellent coffee and fostering meaningful employment. “We were really drawn to the Shop Roaster because of the autoloader aspect of it, and that it really helps with our efficiency and roasting more in less time while keeping things simple enough for our team to stay involved.”  

“We’re Providing Meaningful Work” – Sustainability Rooted in Community

For Kelsey, traceability is a vital part of Pear Tree Coffee Roasters’ mission, seamlessly connecting their local impact to a global one. “Especially with Bellwether and focusing on sustainability and traceability,” she explains, “we’re providing meaningful work for people who don’t always have meaningful job opportunities.” Beyond supporting their employees, Kelsey values knowing that their coffee sourcing uplifts farmers. “We're supporting the farmers and the end product is going to people in our community who just want a good cup of coffee,” Kelsey adds, underscoring the importance of ensuring that every step of the process—from farm to cup—honors those involved.

Through Bellwether’s Green Coffee Marketplace, Pear Tree sources ethically grown beans that align with their values. “I know that whenever we get coffee from Bellwether they do a great job [of sourcing it],” Kelsey shares. She is committed to deepening Pear Tree’s connection between its coffee and its origins. “We are trying to be more intentional about our branding,” she says, aiming to go beyond highlighting their mission of providing jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. This includes sharing the stories behind their coffee and their roaster to create a more meaningful experience for customers. “We want to dive into that even more,” Kelsey adds, “so they know that with that bag of coffee they’re buying or that cup of coffee they’re drinking, they can even learn about the farmer.” By bringing these stories to life, Kelsey hopes to create a richer, more meaningful experience for their customers.

“Making the World More Accessible” – A Shared Mission

For the team at Pear Tree Coffee Roasters, Bellwether isn’t just a tool; it’s a partner in their journey. “You guys are also focused on sustainability, sourcing, and accessibility,” Kelsey says. For her, Bellwether’s plug-and-play roasting system embodies this mission. “You can get a Bellwether, plug it in at your coffee shop, and start roasting. The fact that Bellwether is making roasting accessible to more people totally aligns with our mission of making the world more accessible,” she concludes.