Innovation

Kaapeh-Aroma y Sabor’s innovation consists of strengthening its urban coffee shop model with a socially impactful solution: offering flexible job opportunities for students, so that they can work in their free time without abandoning their academic education. The proposal comes from a small company, with direct communication among its team, focused on high-quality coffee, teas, and bakery products, in a welcoming environment and with social and environmental commitment. In this context, the innovation not only responds to the operation of the business, but also to a real need: to create a work space that is accessible, human, and compatible with student life.

This solution is developed in an urban setting, within the restaurant industry, where the company already promotes sustainability, community connection, and the constant improvement of its products and processes. Its innovative nature lies in the how: combining employment, education, and personal growth within a coffee shop that already organizes activities for the community, promotes sustainable practices, and seeks to offer meaningful experiences to its customers. In this way, the business contributes to SDG 8 because it generates decent, flexible work with opportunities for development; and also to SDG 4 because it allows young people to continue studying while gaining real work experience. In addition, this model helps build a better world by promoting a more inclusive economy, where employment does not compete with education, but rather accompanies and strengthens it.

Inspiration

The leader is not only seeking to sell coffee, but also to build a space that makes people feel good. Her mission is “to offer meaningful moments to customers through coffee prepared with care and passion.” That idea reflects that behind the business there is a more human intention: to make each visit become a pleasant, close, and valuable experience.

The leader also seems to have been inspired by the desire to build community and leave a positive impact. Kaapeh seeks to be “a benchmark in the community” and has as one of its pillars “the promotion of a sustainable lifestyle.” This shows that the motivation is not only in the quality of the product, but in creating a business with purpose, where both people and the environment matter. In that sense, the leader’s inspiration seems to come from bringing together three things in one project: passion for coffee, human connection, and social responsibility.

Overall impact

The overall impact of the innovation consists of creating a work model that benefits the business while also supporting students who need employment compatible with their studies. The main beneficiaries are the hired students, the work team, and the customers. The innovation consists of offering flexible employment within the coffee shop, accompanied by better internal organization, training, and role definition. This takes place within Kaapeh-Aroma y Sabor, an urban coffee shop with a small team, in the daily development of its operations. It is carried out through adaptable schedules, weekly meetings, customer service training, clear task assignment, and sustainable practices.

In the short term, this innovation can generate immediate effects such as better team coordination, less duplication of functions, better time management, and greater staff motivation. It also helps students earn income and gain work experience without abandoning their academic education. For customers, the immediate effect would be more organized, warm, and efficient service. In this sense, the innovation directly contributes to SDG 8, because it promotes decent work, and to SDG 4, because it makes it easier for young people to continue studying while working.

In the long term, the impact would be the consolidation of a business with a social purpose, capable of growing with a more stable, prepared, and committed team. The evidence that suggests this impact, according to the presentation, is not final results already measured, but rather the proposed indicators to verify it: internal surveys, monthly review of objectives, customer satisfaction, sustainability audits, and observation of staff performance. This shows that the innovation does have clear foundations to produce a real and measurable impact.

Business benefit

Because Kaapeh-Aroma y Sabor built a coffee shop with personalized service, high-quality products, constant innovation in the menu, and sustainable practices, several positive effects have occurred within the company. In an urban setting and with a team of 8 people, the business has managed to consolidate a small but functional operation, with close customer service and a differentiated proposal compared to other coffee shops. In addition, by introducing seasonal drinks and new bakery products, the company has created new products and has kept its offer attractive to the market.

In the short term, this has favored the hiring and retention of staff, because the business already has a defined operational structure among management, baristas, and support staff. It has also strengthened the well-being of the team, since the company prioritizes an inclusive and collaborative environment, and proposes concrete actions to improve communication, recognize achievements, train staff, and avoid duplication of functions. All of this suggests better working conditions, greater motivation, and a more organized experience for both employees and customers.

In the long term, the innovation opens opportunities for new markets and economic growth. The business analysis itself identifies as opportunities expansion to other locations, the creation of a product line for online sales, and greater positioning through educational coffee events. The evidence of this impact lies in the combination of existing strengths—product quality, a welcoming environment, community, and sustainability—with clear growth goals. In other words, because the business committed to quality, community, and innovation, it has generated employment, better working conditions, and real possibilities for expansion.

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Social and environmental benefit

This innovation mainly benefits the students who work at the coffee shop, the customers, and the local community. The proposal consists of offering flexible employment for students within a business that already promotes quality, human connection, and sustainability. This takes place at Kaapeh-Aroma y Sabor, an urban coffee shop that offers coffee, teas, and bakery products in a welcoming and collaborative environment. The social benefit occurs day by day, because young people can earn income, gain work experience, and develop skills such as responsibility, customer service, and teamwork without leaving their studies. At the same time, customers receive closer service, and the community has a space that encourages interaction and activities such as workshops and coffee tastings.

In addition, the innovation also benefits the environment because it is integrated into a business that already incorporates sustainable practices. According to the presentation, the company uses recyclable packaging, seeks to minimize waste, and promotes a sustainable lifestyle through its processes and activities. This means that the impact is not only in hiring students, but in doing so within a work model that is more responsible toward the environment. In this way, the business combines social and environmental impact: it creates employment and learning opportunities while reducing its ecological footprint.

Overall, this innovation contributes to a better world because it shows that a coffee shop can be more than just a place of consumption. It can become a space where education is supported, decent work is promoted, and more sustainable habits are encouraged. In other words, it benefits society because it helps students grow, strengthens the community, and at the same time cares for the environment through responsible practices.

Interview

Herminia Larralde Tuñeda, Dueña