Generous Coffee Co. employee Erica Deuel packages an order in the business’ space at 123 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, on Monday, June 19. The company’s store there should be open by the end of the summer.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Ben Higgins said his goal for co-founding Generous Coffee Co. over five years ago was helping others.

He felt “if one person’s life (was) changed” through the donation of the coffee’s profits to charities, then the company had succeeded.

Warsaw native and former “The Bachelor” lead Higgins told InkFreeNews in an interview recently he feels that’s the case.

The company will have a more visible presence in Warsaw soon, with the opening of a shop at 123 S. Buffalo St. Construction is ongoing, with plans to open by the end of the summer.

The store won’t be a regular coffee shop, but serve as a space for selling Generous’ packaged blends.

Roasting for all of Generous’ blends has already occurred at the site for about a year and a half, said the company’s CEO Tyler Silveus.

In the past year and a half, Generous has shipped 26,000 pounds of coffee across the U.S. and into Canada, having expanded into the latter country earlier this year.

As a “for-purpose” company, Generous’ focus isn’t on profits, or at least keeping them. The business gives 100% of its profits back to partner charities, with it having contributed $100,000 over its existence through 30 organizations, according to Higgins’ and Silveus’ estimate.

With Generous working to expand its sales in Kosciusko County, Higgins and Silveus want local nonprofits to benefit. They plan to ask new accounts what organizations they want profits to go to, so monies from sales will stay in the county.

In addition, they’re reaching out to organizations like the Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program, Fellowship Missions and Cardinal Services to see if jobs might be created for people in need via them making items to sell with the sacks which the coffee beans are shipped in.

Higgins noted Warsaw “still is a place that I consider home.”

“It feels like a place to be really known for its giving,” he said of the city, noting other charity-focused businesses like MudLOVE located in the area.

Higgins said he hopes Generous grows and has greater name recognition in the next five years.

Head roaster and coffee purchaser Joel Squires pours beans into a roaster machine on June 19.