“I don’t want to encourage retail therapy or impulse buying.” – Ben Cosford

“There’s this element of taking this green bean and drawing the best flavours possible out of it – to enjoy God’s creation at its best,” explains Ben fondly.

His shift into serious sales was born out of a need to supplement his ministerial wage. But Ben wants his side business to be gospel grounded.

“One of the advantages of owning a business is you can set the tone,” says Ben. Primarily using social media to sell his beans, he seriously considers himself a “pastor to my customers, so I’m conscious in our marketing of not playing on weaknesses. I don’t want to encourage retail therapy or impulse buying.”

Meeting refugees in Adelaide’s northern suburbs caused Ben to commit Soul City to being an employment option for them. “I knew [Soul City Roasters] would lend opportunity to relationships and be able to share Jesus with people from all sorts of nations. Or, if I came across Christians, I could disciple them through the business as well.

“We want to help people physically with work, but the ultimate goal is to help them spiritually with salvation and eternity.”