Have you had a ‘coffee with a conscience’?

HAVEN was founded in 2019 by social entrepreneur and refugee Usman Khalid. Usman, a Walthamstow resident, and his brand of coffee has made waves in the borough, not just for the care put into the grind, but also by using his shop for the social cause to supporting asylum seekers – through outreach work, barista training and events. Usman was even selected to meet King Charles and Queen Kamila on their visit to Walthamstow Town Hall earlier this year. Like many Walthamstownians, Usman is embedded in the community and is always happy to have a chat with locals – so go and grab a coffee and find out more about the great work of Haven by visiting their Coffee Shop 76 St Mary Road, London E17 9RE.

This week (week commencing Monday 16th June) is National Refugee Week, and Haven Coffee are busy being involved with a programme of activity and events. The flagship event Haven Coffee have produced is the stand up comedy show Laff-Ucino at Big Penny Social on Thursday 19th, 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL. With a spectacular, diverse A* lineup, this is a Walthamstow event that ought to be in your diary. More info and tickets available here.

We were lucky to get an exclusive interview with Usman, to share his thoughts and experience of running Haven Coffee in Walthamstow. Here’s what he had to say:

You’re not just a regular coffee shop. Can you explain how you came up with the “coffee with a conscience” philosophy?

The concept behind the shop is shaped from my own interests and experiences. I have always had a love for specialty coffee, and my dream was to one day own my own coffee shop. However, a lot of things shaped my path towards finally owning my own shop. I was a refugee in this country. This led me to working with arts organisation Counterpoint Arts, who promote and celebrate refugee’s and migrants in the UK through the arts. The work they produced was phenomenal, and as a refugee myself I could appreciate the liberating freedom given to people who had been in my situation, as although refugees face barriers, art has no boundaries. Important messages and expressions can be conveyed through art in powerful and accessible ways. Inspired by this, I wanted to fuse my passion for specialty coffee and creative ways to support the refugee community, through comedy poetry and music events and upskilling barista training.

What makes Walthamstow the place of choice for your business?

I live here, and it’s my favourite place in London. I think the structure of the Town Centre plays a huge role in what makes Walthamstow so unique. E17 is a big postcode, with several segments that each have their own character and identity. Then you have this huge historic High Street and market in the middle, where all people congregate. I think this makes Walthamstow so interesting – it’s almost like it’s own city with its own diverse population, that all welcome any opportunity to mingle together. I feel a strong sense of community here. You also have easy access to central London, the City, or easy access to green space such as Epping Forest and Walthamstow Wetlands. Walthamstow has it all.

If someone else we’re to take inspiration from your business model, what advice would you give them?

Running your own business is very tough – so do your homework, plan and budget properly as cash is crucial. So many businesses fail due to cash flow issues, so even if you have brilliant long term goals for your business, do not underestimate the time and cash investment it takes to get to that point. You need to plan for the short and medium term as well which takes 100% commitment. When you start to see that commitment translate into the outcomes you hoped for, whether that’s profit, social value, or something else that’s personal to you like satisfied customers – that’s when you realise it’s worth it.