Building Opportunity, One Cup at a Time: Fulcrum Coffee x Goodwill
The Goodwill Barista Training Program was built on a simple but powerful idea: meaningful work can change lives when people are given access, support, and opportunity. Designed to remove barriers to employment and create clear, attainable pathways into the coffee industry, the program equips students with practical skills, confidence, and hands-on experience that extends far beyond the espresso bar. At its heart, this work is about empowerment—using coffee as a tool for workforce development, community connection, and long-term stability.
At the center of the program’s growth and evolution is Tony, the head leader, designer, and manager of the Barista Training Program. With a deep respect for coffee as both a craft and a community connector, Tony approached the program with a clear vision from day one. The goal was never just to teach students how to make drinks—it was to empower them with knowledge, confidence, and a realistic pathway into a sustainable career. Launched just over two years ago, the program was built on a belief that knowledge is only valuable when it’s shared.
Since its launch, the program has intentionally remained small and highly immersive. Classes run once a month and are capped at eight students, creating space for individualized instruction, hands-on practice, and meaningful mentorship. To date, 136 students have completed the program, with approximately 90 earning barista certifications. Many of those graduates have already found employment in cafés throughout the region, a meaningful outcome for individuals navigating barriers such as limited prior experience, transportation challenges, or lack of access to industry networks.
The curriculum itself reflects the realities of café work. Students learn espresso fundamentals, milk steaming, drink building, equipment adaptation, and coffee theory, alongside customer service, professionalism, and workplace readiness. Lessons focus not only on how to prepare drinks, but why technique, consistency, and care matter. Sustainability, waste reduction, and ethical sourcing are embedded throughout the program, reinforcing respect for both the product and the people behind it.
A major evolution of the Barista Training Program is the opening of Training Grounds Cafe, a new coffee kiosk located inside Goodwill’s flagship retail store. This milestone marks a turning point—not only to expand Goodwill’s ability to reach and serve more communities but also transforming the training experience itself. Training Grounds will operate as a live café environment where students can shadow professional baristas and gain real-time experience in customer service, drink production, POS systems, opening and closing procedures, and back-of-house operations.
For students, this exposure is invaluable. The goal of the kiosk is to enhance the training program by extending learning beyond the classroom. After completing the first week of the two-week course, the second week is dedicated to on-the-floor shadowing at the café. This hands-on model bridges the gap between training and employment, allowing students to apply their skills in a real workplace while building confidence and career readiness. For the program, Training Grounds creates a scalable and sustainable model—one that generates revenue to fund additional classes, expand staffing, and increase accessibility across the region.
Every cup served at Training Grounds directly supports Goodwill’s mission. Revenue from the kiosk helps fund instruction, resources, and future training locations, ensuring the program can continue to grow while remaining accessible to those who need it most. The café also functions as a testbed for innovation, helping the program stay responsive to industry trends and evolving employer expectations.
Central to the success of Training Grounds and the Goodwill Barista Training Program is Fulcrum Coffee’s partnership with Evergreen Goodwill. At Fulcrum, we’re deeply honored to serve as Goodwill’s coffee partner and to support a program that so clearly reflects the values we believe in—as a company and as members of the local coffee community.
“Fulcrum has been absolutely critical to the success of our Barista Training Program,” says Tony. “Their involvement goes far beyond funding and coffee—they provide ethically sourced beans, equipment, and ongoing coaching that help shape both the skillset and ethical foundation we instill in our students from day one.”
Supporting Training Grounds isn’t about simply supplying coffee—it’s about showing up. Our team collaborates closely with Goodwill to help keep the program relevant, innovative, and aligned with the realities of today’s café environment. From curriculum input and customer service training to participation in certifications and graduations, we’re committed to walking alongside students as they prepare for real careers in coffee.
This partnership represents the kind of investment we believe the coffee industry can—and should—make in its communities. By working together to remove barriers and create access to opportunity, Fulcrum and Goodwill are using coffee as a vehicle for meaningful, lasting change—one built on dignity, education, and connection.
For customers, Training Grounds Cafe offers more than a great cup of coffee. It offers a chance to be part of something bigger. Every purchase helps fund education, provide real-world training, and support students as they work toward sustainable employment. One cup at a time, the Goodwill Barista Training Program and Training Grounds Cafe are building futures, strengthening communities, and proving that access to opportunity can be brewed into everyday experiences.
We invite you to visit the Training Grounds Cafe at its grand opening in early March 2026, located inside Evergreen Goodwill Seattle at 700 Dearborn Pl S, Seattle, WA 98144.
For updates leading up to opening day and beyond, follow Evergreen Goodwill on Instagram at @evergrngoodwill.
