A Cup o’ Joe lights the way for Joe Hanson

This time of year most seniors are deciding what is going to come next for them after they graduate high school.  For one of these Buffalo High School seniors, Joe Hanson, the plan is a new business venture in a coffee business.

Joe is an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Individuals with ASD, like everyone else, have strengths and weaknesses.  A person with ASD can be very high functioning, which means that most people would not even know they have ASD.  On the other hand, some people with ASD are very low functioning, which means they have much more difficulty communicating, learning, and integrating in social settings.

For anyone who knows Joe knows that he is very friendly and sociable, and he is also very bright.  He does have difficulty with communication, which has an impact on the type of work he is best suited for.

With enthusiastic help from his Uncle John who is a pastor in Baldwin, WI, Joe had the opportunity to learn about roasting coffee.  When it came to naming Joe’s new business it didn’t take him and his family long to come up with Cup o’ Joe.  His plan is to develop a strong customer base and purchase his own roaster and operate in Hanover, MN.

“Good coffee roasting machines are very expensive, so Joe wants to make sure he has enough customers to cover the cost of the roaster,” said Tim Hanson, Joe’s dad.

Joe has a lot of responsibilities ensuring that his customers get the best quality coffee he can provide them.  From measuring out the green coffee beans, pouring and monitoring the roasting process to specific roasts,  then he empties out the roasted beans at the appointed time, cools them and filters the chaff off the beans.  Lastly, he measures out the roasted coffee beans and pours them into one pound bags and labels them.

When asked, Joe said simply, “I roast coffee.”

“For most people, having a job is one of the most crucial factors in determining their happiness and sense of self-worth.  Finding a job is not easy for anyone these days.  It’s far more difficult for people with ASD.” said Hanson.

According to the Autism Society, the unemployment rate for adults with ASD is over 90%.  Many people with ASD are like Joe – they are bright, and have many marketable skills, but because ASD affects their ability to communicate and interact with others, they have much more difficulty finding work.  Many opt for sheltered workshops, which is certainly one option.  However, a person can not be self-sufficient and pay their own way on those wages.  One of the best avenues for employment is to operate their own business.  Joe’s family hopes that Cup o’ Joe will be so successful that he can not only achieve his own goals, but also provide jobs to his friends and classmates with ASD.

His mom and dad, along with friends and family, help sell Cup o’ Joe coffee.  The biggest selling points are : So far the coffee is selling well because, it tastes great, about as fresh as it can get being delivered within a week, reasonable price at $12 a pound, and the coffee is roasted and packaged by an individual with ASD who is determined to support himself.

“Joe has the same kinds of goals and dreams as everyone else.  Like most people, Joe wants to have a job that he likes.  He wants to live independently and be self-sufficient.  With enough customers, he can live on his own, pay his bills, and have his own life,” said Hanson.

Anyone who is interested in helping Joe and other individuals with ASD and would like to purchase coffee, they can send Joe an email at [email protected] or his dad at [email protected], or call Joe’s mom, Stephanie, at 612-868-8975.