Echo Park’s Silverback Coffee of Rwanda is looking to expand and possibly open a pop-up in Downtown Los Angeles, located at 400 S. Hope St.
Owner Jack Karuletwa tells What Now Los Angeles that although the deal hasn’t been finalized, he hopes to open a pop-up as a second location somewhere in Los Angeles. The original site at 1712 Sunset Boulevard offers various African blends exclusively grown on small farms; it’s 100% naturally grown. The company’s five distinct coffee-growing regions include the Virunga Mountain Region, Akagera Region, Kivu Lave Region, Kizi Rift Valley Region, and the Muhazi Lake Region.
Whether buying a cup of coffee from the original Echo Park site or from an upcoming pop-up, Silverback Coffee of Rwanda supports its values by donating a percentage of its profits to organizations that build schools in local areas and provide services to widows and orphans as a result of the genocide. The company also has partnered with various groups to improve the quality of care and growth of the native endangered Silverback gorilla. Silverback Coffee of Rwanda closely works with Gorilla Doctors and the Foundation of Rwanda.
“Named for the endangered Silverback gorilla whose natural habitat is Rwanda and neighboring Uganda, Jack’s vision and mission for Silverback Coffee of Rwanda is very straightforward – help the poorest coffee farmers realize their value, empower the human resources that make it possible for every Rwandan to become a part of a global economy, and celebrate the power of the human spirit everyday – with a cup of coffee in hand,” according to the company’s website.
