About us

The Café Counter

A simple entry point to support a traffic-free world, one consciously sourced cup at a time. We serve high-quality food and drinks to build awareness of, and engagement in, the movement to end human trafficking.

The wooden service counter with the espresso machine behind it

37 Main St, Durham

Name-your-price café

100% of proceeds to the mission

How it works

Much more than an average coffee shop

  1. 1

    You’re greeted

    A friendly team member welcomes you and shares our mission and current fundraising goal.

  2. 2

    Name your price

    Order what you like and make a “name-your-price” donation. We serve everyone, whatever they give.

  3. 3

    Learn as you sip

    Discover how organizations fight trafficking through prevention, legislation, intervention and survivor aftercare.

  4. 4

    Become a conscious consumer

    Learn how coffee, tea and chocolate move from raw material to your cup, and how to spot and support traffic-free products.

The café counter with the chalkboard menu and pastry case
The espresso machine and grinder at the coffee bar
The food prep station behind the counter

Our suppliers

Ethically sourced from amazing companies

Every product on our counter is chosen with care for the people, animals and land behind it.

  • Kaha Coffee RoastersKaha Coffee Roasters
  • Speckled Ax CoffeeSpeckled Ax Coffee
  • BrandywineBrandywine
  • Arbor TeasArbor Teas
  • Aera Tea Co.Aera Tea Co.
  • White Heron Tea & CoffeeWhite Heron Tea & Coffee
  • Divine ChocolateDivine Chocolate
  • Equal ExchangeEqual Exchange
  • Enna ChocolateEnna Chocolate
  • Wholesome SweetenersWholesome Sweeteners
  • King Arthur Baking Co.King Arthur Baking Co.
  • Maine RootMaine Root
  • Green BeeGreen Bee

The essential ingredients of [all] struggles for justice are human beings who, if only for a moment, if only while beset with fears, step out of line and do something, however small. And even the smallest, most unheroic of acts adds to the store of kindling that may be ignited by some surprising circumstance into tumultuous change.

Howard Zinn