Nonprofit coffee shop in Pittston celebrates major milestone with new business

Coffee Inclusive opened three years ago, with the goal of serving a cup of joe and offering community to those with diverse abilities.

PITTSTON, Pa. — The smell of coffee, the sweetness of a fresh cupcake, and the opportunity to be an active part of their community. At Coffee Inclusive in Pittston, it all started three years ago, with the hope for a more inclusive community for people with diverse abilities. 

Something especially close to President & CEO Frank Bartoli’s heart.

“Well, Elle is our inspiration of our entire network of companies. The reason I founded PA Inclusive and Coffee Inclusive.”

Bartoli’s daughter, Elle, Coffee Inclusive’s Chief Ambassador, and the one who inspired it all, tells Newswatch 16 her favorite thing about the non-profit.

“I’ll have to say the impact that we make here,” said Elle Bartoli. “We truly change lives with every cup that is made here.”

Now Coffee Inclusive is celebrating three years, the bakery is celebrating one, and, as Elle says, they’re changing lives with every cup of joe. 

Coffee Inclusive is expanding once again. The non-profit is opening a for-profit coffee roasting company, Inclusive Grounds, to include individuals with diverse abilities in the coffee shop’s process from start to finish.

“I mean, Julius, as everyone knows, he’s a head baker here, but he wants to do more,” said Brendan Karolchyk, Inclusive Grounds Lead Director. “He wants to try new things, so getting the opportunity to roast coffee, be a brand ambassador for a new company is really exciting for a lot of our employees.”

“I went to LCCC for Pastry Arts, so when I left LCCC, and I got my first job, it was at grocery stores, and I’m here like, eh, foot in the door, yeah, but for me to stay there, I said no,” said Julius Zuckerwar, Bakery Inclusive Head Baker, Inclusive Grounds Lead Roaster.

Julius Zuckerwar wanted more for himself, and each cupcake he baked at Bakery Inclusive proved to be life-changing. Giving him and people like him the opportunity to live a life with hopes, dreams, and goals to accomplish as an integral part of their community.