3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

5 Cool Cafés Worth a Try in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s most fascinating cities, is home to a vibrant specialty-coffee scene, with many cafés and roasteriess often offering locally grown coffee. BY TANYA NANETTI SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Featured photo by Tim Durgan via Unsplash With a population of 3 million, Chiang Mai is a little (by Asian standards) gem in northern […]


PRF El Salvador announces speakers and panellists

Following a call for applications in October 2022, Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) has announced its first speakers and panellists for PRF El Salvador. The two-day forum will be held on 16 and 17 March 2023 at the Salamanca Exhibition Centre in San Salvador. The event is set to return to El Salvador after it […]


Bypass coffee brewing: How can it improve extraction?

There is a lot of science to brewing coffee. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, we trigger – and try to control – an almost endless number of chemical reactions to achieve the perfect extraction. To do so, we have to tweak different variables – such as grind size, temperature, and coffee-to-water ratio – to get the […]


Joven and Atucún Join Forces to Empower Young Farmers

The two brands have collaborated to create a unique coffee bar and support young farmers in the coffee and cacao industries. BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of Joven Coffee  For their first-of-its-kind bar, Joven Coffee and Atucún Chocolateria combined coffee beans, extracted cocoa butter, and organic cane sugar. Committed to supporting young farmers […]

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

3 All-Women Coffee Roasting Companies that Are Changing the Game

The world of specialty coffee is still largely governed by men, but these all-female specialty-coffee roasters are helping to close the gender gap. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Feature photo courtesy of Lot Zero/7Gr As is the case for many commercial sectors, the world of specialty coffee continues to display gender disparity along the entire […]


Brewing at Home and on the Road With Diego Campos

We talk to the first Colombian World Barista Champion and Diamante Coffee Farm founder Diego Campos about his brewing habits. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of Diego Campos The focal point of a coffee worker’s professional life is, obviously, coffee. Whether for a customer, to check a specific production batch, or to verify the […]


What I Learned from My First Tea Ceremony

After taking in a brief moment of a tea ceremony in Thailand, I finally had the chance to participate in the full experience recently in Malaysia. BY TANYA NANETTI SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos by Tanya Nanetti In the years that I worked as a barista in a café, tea always played a marginal role in […]


Brewing at Home and On the Road with Darrin Daniel

We check in with the Cup of Excellence executive director to learn his current coffee-brewing habits. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Featured photo by Emre…

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

The Caripe Variety: A Groundbreaking Milestone in Venezuelan Coffee Farming

Today, we unveil the story behind the Caripe variety and its significance for the Venezuelan coffee industry. BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Featured photo by Carlos Felipe Ramírez Mesa via Unsplash In the heart of Venezuela, nestled among the picturesque states of Monagas, Anzoátegui, and Sucre, lies a legacy deeply rooted in coffee cultivation. This […]


Know Your Sweeteners: Agave: Part Two—Environmental Concerns

Agave has become an increasingly popular sweetener in the coffee industry. But is it as environmentally friendly as people claim it to be? BY EMILY JOY MENESESBARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE Featured photo sourced via Pixabay In recent years, you may have noticed an increase in demand for “alternative sweeteners” like agave. While today, the nectar serves […]


Interest in coffee & health is rising – what do consumers need to know?

There is a wealth of scientific research available about the many health benefits of coffee – as well as the undesirable side effects of drinking too much. But like all fields of science, research about the impact of drinking coffee on human health is ever-changing as we uncover new findings.  Interestingly, the continuous discovery of […]


10 Minutes With Keith Hawkins of the Color of Coffee Collective

We dive into everything you need to know about the Color of Coffee Collective’s mission, initiatives, and the upcoming second edition of the Symposium Experience.  BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of Keith Hawkins  Today at Barista Magazine Online, we sit down for a chat with Keith Hawkins, a passionate entrepreneur and advocate for […]

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

minimum dose size?

Jan 31, 2024 |

I use the Hario switch to brew my coffee and am trying to reduce my caffeine consumption. Hence I would like to brew smaller cups of coffee. I am currently using 10g of coffee with 160g of water. (1:16 Ratio) I am wondering if there is a minimum amount of coffee...

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

The Australian roasting company helps to create opportunities for veteran communities. 

BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT

Photos courtesy of 3 Elements Coffee 

Brisbane, Australia-based 3 Elements Coffee, founded by Navy veteran Terry McNally in 2016, has a mission to support the transition of ex-military personnel into the commercial workspace. To help achieve their goal and raise awareness of related issues, Terry picked coffee as their product of choice, using funds generated to assist in the transition process. We reached out to Terry to find out how 3 Elements Coffee began, what the company has achieved so far, and much more.

Choosing Coffee to Support Veterans 

Knowing that many veterans face difficulties when trying to adjust to civilian life after service, 3 Elements works to ensure they are supported through this transition. One of their main goals is to raise funds for two charities: PTSD Resurrected and Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust. These organizations provide veterans with job training, interview skills, and education scholarships for their children.  

A veteran in a wheelchair, missing one leg, holds up two bags of coffee near the 3 Elements coffee kiosk at the Invictus Games in Australia. Someone at the kiosk in the background gives a peace sign.
3 Elements Coffee was served during the Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. 

Terry, a Navy veteran himself, cares deeply about the post-service transition for veterans. “Often HR companies don’t understand what skill-sets military personnel have and how they translate to commercial speech. This is the same for the veteran during transition; they don’t know how to communicate what they have done to an HR company. (They may find) it hard to get employment and need a transition course to help them integrate into the commercial community.” By providing courses, coaching, and funds for veteran charities, 3 Elements Coffee hopes to make a positive change in the lives of those who have served their country.  

Terry picked coffee as the company’s product of choice because he believes it is a great way to bring people together. “Coffee is a great way to connect people and start conversations; it’s something we all can relate to,” he says. ”For us, it’s also about the taste and sourcing of premium beans from around the world, while ensuring that producers are being paid correctly to support their own families.” 

A gray-haired man in a suit, wearing glasses, shakes hands with a man in uniform. Onlookers smile near an Invictus Games banner.
The 3 Elements team attends various community events, where they serve up delicious coffees and educate people about their mission and how to support veterans. 

How 3 Elements Gives Back to Veteran Communities 

The company does several things to support veterans, such as developing custom roasts for charity organizations by mixing blends that they promote on their respective websites. In addition, a percentage of sales are given back to the charity. The charity can also purchase coffee at a reduced wholesale rate, with 100% of profits going back to them. 3 Elements also donates half-year and full-year supplies of coffee as prizes in auctions.

Coffee Carts

3 Elements will also loan out their coffee carts to veterans looking to start their own businesses. Terry explains that they don’t charge for the loan of the machine and the cart; these tools help veterans to see whether a coffee business is for them. “If it is for them, we then loan the cart ’til they save up enough money to buy/build their own cart so they become self-sufficient, allowing us to then re-loan out the cart to another veteran,“ he says. “If it’s not for them, it still gives the veteran opportunities to talk about themselves to the customer whilst serving coffee. … (They can) show potential business owners/companies who they are and talk about what they did in the military in the hope that person gives them a formal interview/job.” 

Many veterans have found success in 3 Elements Coffee’s transition programs, and Terry is proud of what the company has achieved. He hopes to see more veterans given the opportunity to pick up new skills and find meaningful employment after service in the military. “My advice to them is to think about their passion and how they can turn it into a business. Stick to what they know. Research what they want to do and if there is a market for it. Be prepared to work long hours to start with and go to as many network nights as they can,” he says. 

The line of Jack Reacher collab products. Two bags of coffee, one called Worth Dying For and the other One Shot, an all black travel mug with the words Down Under, a similar water bottle, and logo tote bags.
The collaboration with Lee Child is an example of the company’s commitment to creating meaningful partnerships with shared values. 

Jack Reacher Collab

3 Elements Coffee has also teamed up with Lee Child, the award-winning author of the highly successful Jack Reacher books, to create a special range of limited-edition blends for fans in Australia and New Zealand. The company plans to expand by offering even more veterans the opportunity to own their own coffee carts. Furthermore, they will be actively promoting their businesses in the community as a way of helping other communities, clubs, and organizations raise funds for their own initiatives that benefit the community through the love of great coffee.  

All these activities are aimed at continuing to give back to society while simultaneously growing the reach of the company’s business. If you wish to find out more or get involved with 3 Elements’ initiatives, check out their website! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine, and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work. You can follow her adventures at thewanderingbean.net.

The post 3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time   appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

Perfect Little Beans

Chinmey Hill Coffee uses specialty-grade beans with zero primary defects (such as black beans or sour beans) and less than five secondary defects (such as broken beans). This is important because primary defects will greatly affect the taste of the coffee. Having zero defects allows the coffee to be the most optimal flavor.

Window for Optimal Flavor

Chimney Hill Coffee ships our coffee the same day it was roasted, so you will receive it before it enters the window of optimal flavor.  This means you’ll never miss the opportunity to enjoy the coffee’s peak flavor.

Coffee Ratings

Coffee undergoes many scoring processes by professionals who achieved their Q Grader certification. Coffee is first graded when it’s green. If there are defects the coffee is determined to be “not-specialty grade”. For those coffees that pass green grading, they are sample roasted and cupped. (Cupping is the official term for critically tasting and scoring coffees. The official cupping form is standard worldwide, and where the 100-point scoring system comes from.) A coffee’s dry fragrance, wet aroma, flavor, aftertaste, body, acidity, balance, and overall impression are taken into consideration while uniformity issues and defects, will lower the overall score.

Specialty Coffee

Specialty coffee, coined by Erna Knutsen in 1974, refers to a coffee that receives a quality grading score of 80 percent or higher. While “premium” or “gourmet” seem like they’re synonymous with “specialty,” they simply are marketing terms with no defined standards. Specialty coffees are grown in specific and ideal micro-climates, and have distinctive and unique flavor profiles, with little to no defects.

Third-Wave Coffee

We’re currently in the third wave of coffee. The first wave of American coffee put pre-ground, vacuum-sealed cans in kitchens across America. The second wave started with the late ‘60s introduction of Peet’s coffee (by Alfred Peet) through the proliferation of Starbucks. The third wave of coffee focuses on origin transparency, nuanced flavors, and artisan roasting. The term “third wave” is synonymous with specialty coffee.

3 Elements Coffee: Supporting Veterans, One Cup at a Time  

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping
0