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Community Corner

Giving Back One Cup at a Time: Gourmet Giving of Chicagoland

Al and Amy Nobles were looking for a way to prosper while giving back to the community; they found it in a coffee cup.

Al Nobles said people are skeptical when they hear that all they have to do is plug in a coffee machine to help out an organization they care about. 

"It's free?" they ask. They think there is a catch, Nobles said. 

Nobles, and his wife, Amy, said they were quickly sold by the giving part of Gourmet Giving, a company that places robotic baristas in businesses with a philanthropic twist. 

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Nobles explains how it works. They bring the machine to a host site, and 20 percent of the revenue from the drinks sold goes to a charity that the host chooses. 

The Montgomery couple saw the franchise as a great opportunity last fall when they were looking to go into business for themselves, outside of their full-time day jobs. 

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Al, who is a business analyst at Dental Network of America in Lombard, and Amy, who works for the insurance company W.R. Berkley, said they are interested in working for themselves, and hope to grow their new business, Gourmet Giving of Chicagoland. 

The Nobles have put one robotic barista to work so far at an Aurora tax firm. And they are actively seeking more host businesses.

"At no cost to them, they can help out a charity. It's like found money," Al said. He added that the host business can also profit from the machine, depending on the amount they want to set for the drinks.

The robotic barista offers a selection of eight coffee drinks that are typically priced at $2 each. Customers of host businesses can choose from lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and other coffee drinks. 

The Nobles maintain and service the machines, and provide all of the supplies, including cups, lids, sugar, cream, flavor shots, etc. 

A well-trafficked machine could sell 100 cups a week, thus giving the host's charity $2,000 a year. 

The coffee is freshly ground and pressed from 100 percent Arabica beans for each cup sold, Al said.

"They are great tasting beverages," said Al, whose choice at the moment is a vanilla whipped drink with vanilla froth, called All the Vanilla.

Al, who is originally from Lombard, said his entrepreneurial spirit found the right match with Gourmet Giving. "It's that piece," he said of the company's charitable aspect that makes it so exciting.

"Amy and I call it 'Coffee with a Cause,'" he said.

Contact Al and Amy Nobles at 630-636-0569 or visit the website at www.gourmetgivingchicagoland.com

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