Fresh coffee, fresh start at Kabul's Gratitude Café

Photo By Master Sgt. Sandra Welch | (left) U.S. Army Specialist William Krell, 442nd Engineer Company/Train, Advise, Assist Command – Air (TAAC-Air) personal security detail team member, enjoys the Gratitude Café with co-workers. The concept was developed two years ago with the idea to set up a coffee house to serve the troops with a free cup of coffee every morning at Forward Operating Base Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sandra Welch/released)  

AFGHANISTAN

09.20.2015

Courtesy Story

438th Air Expeditionary Wing

Staff Sgt. Sandra Welch
AFCENT Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan - There is nothing like the smell of fresh coffee brewing in the morning. A free cup of coffee and a cookie to go with it is a first stop for most members on Forward Operating Base Oqab, Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Gratitude Café was a concept of former 438th Air Expeditionary Wing/Train, Advise, Assist Command – Air (TAAC-Air) personnel had about two years ago to provide members with a free cup of coffee every morning.

“The idea was to set up a coffee house here on the FOB,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Epstein, TAAC-Air director of staff. “When they did that though, there was no reason to have young enlisted troops serving coffee as an additional duty. So because it is a service before self kind of mentality, we decided it was going to be all colonels and chiefs who were going to go ahead and serve the coffee.”

While the colonels and command chief run the café it also provides opportunity for leadership to interact with everyone in a more relaxed environment.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me anyways as a senior officer to interact with people who wouldn’t come and talk to me normally,” Epstein said. “I can see the people; I get the pulse of what’s going on. It gives me an opportunity to kind of feel like I am serving the people who are actually working in the organization.”

The senior officers and wing’s command chief serve a wide variety of people each morning.

“The Gratitude Café serves anybody who serves here at FOB Oqab,” Epstein said. “We have Afghan nationals that are here, men and women of TAAC-Air, as well as contractors who actually work with us. Anybody who comes gets free coffee in the morning.”

The café can serve from 20-45 people on any given morning from 7:30-8:30 a.m. coming in looking for a free cup of coffee, free Wi-Fi and sometimes cookies and pastries.

“It’s the best coffee in Kabul made and served with love by our colonels,” said MSgt Kelly Barr, TAAC-Air personnel advisor. “It’s a great avenue for us to step out of the office in the morning to socialize and enjoy a cup of joe.”

The coffee being served with love is also donated from friends and family with love.

“All the coffee is donated usually from friends and family back home of the people serving here,” Epstein said. “The Gratitude Café also has a mailing address if people want to volunteer and send us coffee. We are always accepting donations of coffee and creamer.”

TAAC-Air personnel, on average, deploy for six-months to one year deployments. To start the day off with a free cup of coffee may just be the trick.

“It gives people a little break from being in a deployed environment,” Epstein said. “They can think they are in a [a fancy coffee house] or somewhere back home. They can take some time off, take a break, refuel and

• Date Taken: 09.20.2015
• Date Posted: 10.29.2015 06:16
• Story ID: 180270
• Location: AF