Higher Grounds by Manolo's: the café that gives its profits back, now on Zolu

← Zolu Blog A latte on a café table (illustrative image)

Inside Myers Park United Methodist Church, at 1501 Queens Road, there's a café with an unusual business model. Higher Grounds by Manolo's serves 100% Colombian coffee, bought through direct trade from small growers, alongside pastries baked by Manolo's Bakery. And its profits go back to the community, through the church's mission and outreach programs.

The café is a partnership between the church and Manolo's, and it hires with intention: people who need a second opportunity, including immigrants and people with disabilities. Every cup does a little good twice, at the farm and in the neighborhood.

Now on Zolu

Higher Grounds now uses Zolu to stay close to the people who walk through its door. Regulars can keep a loyalty card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet: scan the QR code at the counter, and every coffee adds a stamp, with no app to download. The team shares who they are with digital Zolu cards.

For a café that measures success by what it gives back, knowing its regulars matters. A loyalty card that lives on their phone keeps those people coming, and every visit keeps the mission going.