NORRISTOWN, Pa.—“I’m Jacob MacFarland. I’m from Coffee Closet with Barista Jake; I make coffee, hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade.” Barista Jake MacFarland said.
When an Epoch Times reporter walked into the Coffee Closet with MacFarland, the proprietor introduced himself and asked his mother, “You want me to give him a tour?”
MacFarland’s shop started as a coffee cart in June of 2020, outside the McFarland family business in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Today, it is a thriving enterprise, selling great coffee, but more importantly, helping people with special needs contribute to the community.
Angela MacFarland developed the coffee cart to give her son an opportunity to pursue his love of coffee. Today, it is much more than that. It has transformed MacFarland from a shy young man with autism and severe anxiety to a confident store manager. His story has inspired 12 other young people with special needs to join him as interns in the coffee business. The coffee shop’s success has also led to a non-profit for special needs youth….