Green Hills just got a new local coffeehouse, and it’s a little more ambitious in its mission than your typical java joint.
The operative word is “mission.” The Well Coffeehouse is being operated as a nonprofit venture with a Christian mission to address poverty in the world, with an emphasis on bringing clean water to areas like Ethiopia and Uganda.
“The Well exists for the purpose of making a profit to give it away,” Rob Touchstone, who co-founded The Well with Chris Soper, says with a laugh. “We pay our baristas and the rent, of course, but all of our profits will go to multiple different missions. We’re putting our faith into action.”
Touchstone said that even though The Well has high-minded goals, it’s also serious about the quality of its coffee, with beans provided by Just Love Coffee Roasters in Murfreesboro. “The coffee’s not an afterthought,” he said. “Making coffee is a spiritual thing, too.”
In addition to espresso drinks, The Well does pour-over coffee brews by the cup. Scones, muffins and other pastries are from Foxy Baking Co. in East Nashville.
The Well opened Wednesday in the former Burger King site near the firehouse on Richard Jones Road in Green Hills. The team behind the project includes Matt Yates, Walt Malone, Steve Morrow and Charlie Dillingham. The interior decor, featuring wood reclaimed from an old barn in Rock Island, Tenn., was designed by Laura Copeland.
Located at 2035 Richard Jones, The Well is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Touchstone said hours will extend to midnight when local colleges return to session in the fall. The phone number is 730-5016.
