A new coffee shop has opened at 931 Lassen Lane in El Dorado Hills with a mission that goes well beyond the espresso machine: Proxy International Coffee Co. says it will send its profits to organizations helping orphans at refugee camps in Uganda. The shop serves lattes, matcha and a rotating menu of other beverages, and it held a grand opening featuring a raffle, samples and drinks for purchase.
According to The Sacramento Bee, Heather Hodson runs Proxy alongside Jennifer Wingfield, and the two women helped bring the shop to life in El Dorado Hills. Hodson told the outlet the business was intended as a local place where people could gather and have a special experience. She also said Proxy began small, roasting batches of coffee before growing into a full-blown coffee shop.
From Roasting Batches to a Full Storefront
Proxy is associated with Vintage Grace Church, which has opened a lounge area to Proxy customers, per the same Sacramento Bee report. The shop also sells goods from a truck parked in the lot at 931 Lassen Lane. The business will employ roughly six baristas in addition to Hodson and Wingfield, the paper reports.
Beverages at Proxy run from $3.50 to $6 before add-ons, with espresso priced at $3.50, cold brew at $5, lattes at $6, and matcha at $6, according to the Bee's reporting. Customers can order online or in person, and the menu at Proxy International Coffee Co. lists a rotating selection of hot teas alongside espresso drinks, chai and cocoa-based options.
Add-Ons and Hours
Flavor syrups — including vanilla, maple, lavender, chocolate, brown sugar, caramel and hazelnut — cost an extra $0.50, while cold foam adds $1.50 to a drink. An extra espresso shot also runs $1.50, and drinks that include milk can be made with almond or oat milk for an additional $1, according to the menu posted on Proxy's website.
The shop keeps a fairly generous weekday schedule, open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday hours run 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Sunday hours are 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., per Proxy's site.
The Mission Behind the Menu
Proxy International Coffee Co. says on its site that it uses proceeds from the shop to support child refugees in Uganda, with purchases meant to help provide essential resources, education and opportunities for children in need. The company also says it upholds fair trade and ethical growing practices meant to empower producers and protect the environment. The Sacramento Bee reports those profits specifically go toward organizations helping orphans at refugee camps in Uganda.
