See How This Korean Café in QC Born Amid a Pandemic is Prioritizing Jobs for PWDs

South Korean café Hisbeans made two brave decisions when it arrived in the Philippines: employ persons with disabilities (PWDs) and open a coffee shop in the middle of a pandemic. The first one was intentional, while the second required a little improvisation.

Employing PWDs has always been a part of Hisbeans’ social commitment since it opened its doors in South Korea 12 years ago. On its website, the company describes itself as a “social innovation brand” with a goal of creating a community where PWDs are given equal opportunities. From its first branch in Handong University, Hisbeans has since rolled out dozens of stores across South Korea, ensuring that each cup served has a taste of its advocacy.

Its café in Quezon City looks exactly like those in K-dramas: softly lit interiors, hardwood floors, and minimalist accents that make for a pretty Instagram background.

The Beat Asia spoke with the people behind Hisbeans to discuss their advocacy and how they’re managing their first ever venture outside South Korea while a pandemic is forcing many retailers to shut their physical stores or shelve any plans of ever opening one.

Can you tell us more about Hisbeans and why you chose the Philippines as your first overseas branch?

Hisbeans was first established in South Korea in the year 2009. Hisbeans wanted to provide an opportunity to work happily not only for the 2.5 million people with disabilities in Korea, but also for about 1 billion people with disabilities around the world. Thus, the first challenge we took was the Philippines

What's the main inspiration behind employing persons with disabilities? How did you arrive at this advocacy/social enterprise?

We are surrounded by many PWDs, and we feel that they lack opportunities, not skills. We wanted to create jobs, teach and help them, but now it seems we have more to learn from them.

In Korea, there is a law that requires a certain percentage of PWD employment that has to be hired. These companies are unfamiliar with hiring PWDs, so Hisbeans helps them by hiring them in Hisbeans cafe.

How many PWD employees do you have at Hisbeans Philippines?

In the Philippines, we have six PWD baristas who are equipped in making coffee. On the other hand, we have more than 60 PWD baristas in Korea.

How do you empower your employees and make them feel that they are not "different"?

We make them feel that they are not "different" by giving PWDs a chance just like non-disabled people. Our PWD baristas greet our customers brightly, take orders from them politely, and serve delicious coffee and food.

We always encourage them and tell them that they are doing well and that making [a] mistake is not a big deal. This helps them feel that they can do it, that disability is not a problem.

Do you have any tie-ups or partnerships with local organizations to help you source employees?

This project started through the help of Grain Foundation Philippines, a non-profit organization for PWDs. Initially, we have interviewed PWDs from Grain Foundation to be employees and now have opened the doors to all PWDs to be part of our team.

Hisbeans Philippines opened in July 2021 when COVID-19 cases in the country were at high levels and restrictions limited access to many physical retail stores. What made you take the risk and open a café in the Philippines? What were the challenges of setting up a store in the middle of a pandemic and how are you trying to overcome those?

Establishing Hisbeans was already planned way before the pandemic. We still continued this project despite the hardship because we believe that in midst of this pandemic, PWDs would need this job more. It's all through God's blessing we [are] now open and with God's grace we will overcome all hardships to come.

How do you source your coffee beans?

We use Geisha beans, the No. 1 bean in the World Coffee Competition (COE: Cup Of Excellence) from 2017 to 2021. We make coffee with Abaya Geisha beans from the Gecha region of Ethiopia, the origin of geisha coffee (the highest grade G1, G2).

What are your plans for Hisbeans Philippines?

We want our Hisbeans branch to expand. We want more PWDs to be hired and given the chance to work without discrimination.

We also want to have [a] roasting business in the Philippines and make our beans accessible so that more people can taste and enjoy our coffee.