Twenty degrees north and south of the equator, in regions known as the 20th parallels, natives harvest the fuel that keeps the world running - Coffee.
It is in these regions where Wake Up Coffee Co. chooses to buy their coffee beans at a fair price.
It's called fair and direct trade, according to Megan Preston, co-owner of Wake Up Coffee Co., and it beats the banana republic - a politically unstable area with an impoverished working class whose economy depends largely on exporting products - most coffee growers in the 20th parallels work.
"When you create a market place for what people can produce, that could go on forever," Megan said. "It gives them more opportunity for continued income and gives them the pride of a job well-done and empowerment through meaningful work."
From Ethiopia, Mexico, Liberia and straight into your coffee cup on Auburn University's campus; Wake Up Coffee will be selling their worldly coffee on campus among the ranks of the various other food trucks this coming fall semester next to Comer Hall off of Mell Street from morning through lunch.
Wake Up Coffee will begin selling their coffee from a 1982 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia modified to into a coffee house on wheels, which they named Papercup Espresso.
Equipped with most of the amenities the main store has to offer, Wake Up Coffee and Papercup Espresso will be able to satisfy the coffee craving students need fixed to wake up with lattes, espresso, mixed drinks and dripped coffee.
Wake Up Coffee will begin roasting their own coffee beans locally once the van makes its debut on campus.
"From what I've heard, Starbucks is always really crowded," Megan said. "It would be nice to have another option, so we might catch some of their overflow."
Megan and Wade Preston, co-owner of Wake Up Coffee Co., purchased the van from Steady Hand Pour House, a coffee shop based in Atlanta.
"It used to be a street coffee van, but it had been sitting out for three or four years, was rusty and busted up," Wade said. "We saw some potential in it and we thought it was made for a college town."
The van's first adventure into coffee was at the 2013 Iron Bowl before Wake Up Coffee Co. ever opened. Megan and Wade set up Paper Cup Espresso next to Ander's Bookstore to advertise their soon-to-be coffee shop.
"It's fun to look back and know that our first day of business, the first cup of coffee we ever sold was on the Iron Bowl 2013," Wade said.
Now, the van is in good shape thanks to Auburn industrial design seniors Blaine McHale, Kathryn Klebenow, Joanna Waters, Madeline Sharp and Matt Severin.
Wake Up Coffee contacted the industrial design department at Auburn to work on the interior design and layout of the van.
"With one or two people working in the van, space can be at a premium," Severin said. "There are also certain things you are required to have for health standards, so making sure everything can fit into the van can be kind of a hard job."
After measuring the van, brainstorming and consulted with Wade, the industrial design students were able to design an interior that was as efficient as possible from the standpoint of a barista.
"It'll make it look like more of a coffee can, instead of like a 'let's all grab Shaggy and the gang and go camping' van," Severin said.
Megan and Wade have begun a Kickstarter in order to get their van project off the ground.
Wake Up Coffee's goal is $10,000 and will end on Aug. 17.
Individuals who pledge money to Papercup Espresso's Kickstarter can receive anything form free coffee and T-shirts to full barista lessons.
Backers who donate $1,000 or more will receive a private party from Wake Up Coffee with live music and unlimited free drinks at Wake Up Coffee Co. in Auburn or at a private location of the backer's choosing.
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