In the steep mountainside in Zaruma, Ecuador, the story of Z-Beans Coffee starts with Mercer student Shane Bruerster, and a dream.
In the summer of 2016, Shane Bruerster had gone on a Mercer on Mission program expecting a cultural lesson. What he found instead was a partnership that would reshape the lives of coffee farmers and help strengthen the community back home in Macon, Georgia.
According to the Z-Beans website, Bruerster’s guide, Arturo Peñarreta, was his first inspiration. Peñarreta did not just introduce Bruerster to Ecuadoran coffee farms, he modeled a kind of generosity and belief that stayed with Bruerster far long after he left Ecuador.
Bruerster and Peñarreta called regularly which strengthened the backbone of Z-Beans. Inspired by Peñarreta’s perseverance and the challenges farmers face, Shane Breurster envisioned a company built on direct, transparent trade, ensuring that all parties involved received recognition and fairness.
Bruerster’s mission resonated with now Z-Beans Chief Marketing Officer Mary Kathryn Stewart.
“We like to say that every cup of Z-Beans coffee represents a shared commitment to uplifting the people around us. Whether it’s through profit shares with Mercer organizations or simply remembering a customer’s name, the coffee shop acts as the pulse for the community around it. It offers literal and emotional energy through caffeine and connection,” Stewart said.
Stewart has been officially working at Z-Beans for five years, but was aware of the company since 2017. She shares that she was drawn to working here thanks to an internship and how driven as well as dedicated the entire staff was to their jobs.
Z-Beans is often packed with people of all ages whether its college students grabbing a quick cup before 8 a.m. classes or professors after a long day of teaching.
“One look inside Z-Beans will give you the pulse of Mercer’s campus on any given day,” Stewart said.
She also shares that one her favorite things to witness in the coffee shop is the connection between baristas and regular customers. With Z-Beans being located in the middle of Mercer Village, it is not uncommon to hear students talking about finals or personal lives with the baristas.
“There’s something very freeing about discussing important matters with a friendly face who maybe doesn’t have the same level or depth of relationship as a true friend or family member,” Stewart says.
