Question
in one short paragraph each Choose a notetaking method (Cornell, web, bullet point) and jot down the main activities of Random Acts of Coffee. You can do this either on a word processing document or on a piece of notebook paper. Focus on its business model, including the pay-it-forward system and its approach to sourcing coffee. You may find it helpful to consider how RAC is different from other coffee shops and how these unique aspects are integral to its operation.
Step 2: What Problems Does RAC Solve?
Keeping in mind your notes from Step 1, discuss the specific community and environmental problems RAC addresses through its business practices. Explain how RAC’s model helps solve issues like economic inequality among coffee growers and environmental challenges. You may choose to answer these questions in a word processing document, a voice recording, or another method of your choosing.
Step 2: What Problems Does RAC Solve?
Keeping in mind your notes from Step 1, discuss the specific community and environmental problems RAC addresses through its business practices. Explain how RAC’s model helps solve issues like economic inequality among coffee growers and environmental challenges. You may choose to answer these questions in a word processing document, a voice recording, or another method of your choosing.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
Method chosen: bullet-point (notes rendered as a short paragraph). Random Acts of Coffee sells retail coffee while running a pay‑it‑forward system where customers pre‑purchase or donate drinks/credits for people in need; it sources beans through ethical channels (direct trade or partnerships with smallholder cooperatives), paying premiums and emphasizing transparency; it roasts and serves locally, partners with community groups for outreach (free/discount days, job training, pop‑ups), and practices sustainability (composting, reusable cups, waste reduction).
What problems RAC solves (short paragraph). RAC addresses community problems like limited access to affordable hot drinks, social isolation, and lack of local job or training opportunities by using the pay‑it‑forward model to provide immediate help and build community ties; economically, its direct‑sourcing and premium payments help reduce income volatility and inequity for smallholder coffee growers by channeling more revenue and support back to producers; environmentally, RAC’s emphasis on sustainably sourced, shade‑grown or agroforestry coffee and investments in farmer training helps reduce deforestation, lower chemical inputs, and increase climate resilience on coffee farms.
What problems RAC solves (short paragraph). RAC addresses community problems like limited access to affordable hot drinks, social isolation, and lack of local job or training opportunities by using the pay‑it‑forward model to provide immediate help and build community ties; economically, its direct‑sourcing and premium payments help reduce income volatility and inequity for smallholder coffee growers by channeling more revenue and support back to producers; environmentally, RAC’s emphasis on sustainably sourced, shade‑grown or agroforestry coffee and investments in farmer training helps reduce deforestation, lower chemical inputs, and increase climate resilience on coffee farms.