Redemption behind coffee: this cup of coffee comes from the sinful youth prison.

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Do you ever think about it when you drink coffee? There may be some special stories hidden behind the drink in my hand. And if you know these stories, will you have a different impression of that cup of coffee?

In Britain, there is a specialty coffee shop called Redemption Roasters, which has a unique story of its own. "Redemption" means "redemption" here, so named because it is a coffee shop closely linked to the prison.

A coffee shop born in a youth prison

I believe that no matter which country it is, it will feel a headache about crime. In recent years, the youth crime rate in the UK has not only risen. According to the Department of Justice, there were nearly 4000 prisoners aged 18 and 20 in prison in 2018. To make matters worse, 74 per cent of prisoners commit crimes again within a year of release; 64 per cent of former criminals lose their jobs within two years of their release.

If these prisoners can find a job after they are released from prison, their chances of committing another crime will be greatly reduced by 50%. To this end, with the assistance of the British Department of Justice, Redemption Roasters (Redemption Coffee) was born in the most notorious youth prison "Aylesbury prison" (Ellsbury Prison).

Aylesbury prison is known for its rigour, holding about 440 young criminals, 30% of whom serve sentences of more than 10 years. To save prisoners who are abandoned by society and give up hope themselves, Max Dubiel, one of the founders of Redemption Coffee, thinks it is a good way to nurture them to acquire skills and provide jobs.

These prisoners are on the road to becoming professional baristas.

After the establishment of Redemption Coffee, a learning and production center was set up in Ellsbury Prison to provide complete barista training courses for 18-and 21-year-old prisoners, ranging from bean selection, baking to brewing. At the same time, Redemption Coffee has physical stores in central London. Participants in the course have the opportunity to intern in person, and when they get out of prison, they can also find a job in the store or related industry.

As the only coffee brand produced in prison in the world, Redemption Coffee not only provides a way out for young criminals in prison, but also does not sloppy in terms of coffee quality. There are not only a variety of coffee beans to choose from, but also a good evaluation on the Internet. Netizens who left a message said that "the decoration in the store is simple, the dessert is attractive, and the service attitude is very good."

Open a new door to life with coffee

It is also worth mentioning that the design of Salvation Coffee has a special meaning. Its logo combines the two "R" with the first letter of the name into the shape of a keyhole, which means "opening the door of prison and opening the door of a new life". Dubiel believes that baristas, as a relatively young profession, are more likely to help these ex-cons start a new life.

Knowing the hidden story behind this, I wonder what people think of the flavor of this cup of coffee.