Soltane Café: The Sweet Taste of Equity & Inclusion

Did you know that 7 out of 10 Americans drink at least one cup of coffee every week? The National Coffee Association reports that an additional 62% of people in the United States drink it every day. We’ve all heard of coffee empires such as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Wawa, but there is one local shop in Phoenixville that goes above and beyond to provide excellent service, specialty coffee, and pastries to customers.

This shop is Soltane Café.

Founded in 2011 as the first inclusive social enterprise of Camphill Soltane, Soltane Café provides high-quality coffee, baked goods, and fresh/local ingredients to visitors. Starting as a wood-fired bread bakery, Soltane Café shifted its focus in 2016 to artisan coffee and organic, homemade pastries.

While located in Chester County, Soltane Café is also within close proximity of Montgomery County and is a hot spot for local college students. 

Soltane Café has many coffees and pastries available for purchase. Popular menu items include quiche, raspberry streusel squares, and lattes. They offer limited-time options during the holidays including the Valentine’s Day specialty drink, Razz-Mo-Tazz, which has natural raspberry pureé with a rich chocolate taste.

Camphill Soltane’s mission is to provide opportunities for education, healing, relationship building, and meaningful work for people with intellectual differences. This mission is evident in the work of the cafe as people with intellectual differences are employed here and develop career skills that will go a long way in building a prosperous future.

“Camphill Soltane is community-centered and inclusive,” says Krysta Knaster, Soltane’s Enterprise Operations Director. “People with intellectual differences work and learn alongside people of all abilities. We also work closely with nonprofits, veterans and provide space for people to say ‘How can I help?’”

In addition to Soltane Café, Camphill Soltane offers three other social enterprises, including Entwine, Community Arts Phoenixville, and Soltane Horticulture. All four of these enterprises create opportunities for career growth and personal development.

Camphill Soltane accepts donations of any kind, which goes a long way towards building a better future for people with intellectual differences. 

On April 23rd, Camphill Soltane will host their 18th annual Wine and Fine Dining event in Whitsun Hall on Soltane’s campus in Glenmoore. The event will include a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception, a gourmet dinner, and a live auction featuring wines, handcrafted items, and more! Camphill Soltane is currently accepting sponsors and advertisers for the event, and tickets to attend will go on sale soon.

For more information on Soltane Café and its parent company Camphill Soltane, find them on their Website, Instagram, and Facebook. If you’re looking for a quick bite and a way to support a great cause, look no further than Soltane Café!