Mission Coffee: Coffee Finds a Higher Calling

Mission Coffee is a grassroots Veteran owned business that began in 2018 and aims at connecting military Veterans to one another in a relaxing and informal way. Even better still, Veterans are building bonds through their shared love of coffee.

“The mission of Mission Coffee is just to sit down and have a cup of coffee and start the conversation,” says President Dave DiFranco. It’s no secret that American Veterans suffer from startling rates of PTSD, and while the suffering remains the same, all Veterans deal with post-traumatic stress differently. “According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder.”

These statistics can vary across generations and wars; however, most Veterans have difficulties reaching out for help, and as time goes by this becomes increasingly detrimental to their mental health and well-being. That’s something that DiFranco understands all too well. “My dad was a WWII veteran, and I lost him to PTSD, to suicide,” says DiFranco soberly. And suddenly the goal of Mission Coffee becomes clear: communication and support must be coordinated for Veterans in need of assistance, and great tasting coffee is the focal point.

Mission Coffee is not simply about fundraising; it is a Veteran services organization that gives back to their local community. “We served our coffee at the Kiwanis country club dinner this year. People are really enjoying it. We use local roasters, and last year, we sent coffee to Afghanistan for our troops out there. The best blend everyone likes is our Bakery blend. 90% of people love it, and it has a good kick! When you open the coffee, it has an aroma. It’s all Arabica beans. We don’t do anything without Arabica beans. There are no fillers, no chemical enhancers. We don’t use the chemicals that aren’t good for you,” boasts DiFranco.