· Worker direction, Leadership
How Worker Direction works before anyone is voted in
Certification opens the teams, not a vote on the business. How decisions get made here today, what one certified worker means, and why we decided to be patient.
Writing
News and articles
Worker direction, cooperatives, poverty, coffee, and the things we are trying to build in one shop on West Southern Avenue.
43 posts
· Cooperatives, Worker direction
How an owner hands a business to its workers
The design we are testing: founders keep a veto and are repaid for what founding cost them, workers earn membership, and the other members buy the founders out.
· Beanchain, Worker direction
Where the handover stands, October 2026
A dated report on handing Beanchain to the people who work here: one person certified, nobody a member yet, $15.50 an hour, and two founders without a wage.
· Cooperatives, Beanchain
Co-op, ESOP or something else: what the Cooperate Network would ask of a business
Stage three of our plan opens shared services to other businesses. What co-ops and ESOPs give the people who work in them, and what we would ask in return.
· Beanchain, Cooperatives
Why Beanchain plans to grow in Cells, not franchises
A Cell is several drive-throughs and a couple of bigger stores, owned as one cooperative. Why we plan to grow that way, and what the nonprofit in the middle is for.
· Poverty, Worker direction
Wage theft is bigger than every robbery, burglary and car theft combined
More than $50 billion a year, against less than $14 billion for every robbery, burglary, larceny and car theft. What the numbers say, and why it keeps happening.
· Working here, Beanchain
Free coworking in Mesa: what you get without a day pass
Our shared workspace in Mesa has real desks, fast WiFi and power at nearly every seat, with no day rate or membership. How it compares with paying for a pass.
· Working here, Community
How long can you stay at a coffee shop to work?
Most places run on an unwritten deal: keep buying, and give the table back when it gets busy. Ours is simpler. Buy a coffee and the desk is yours for the day.
· Working here, Community
A place to study near Mesa Community College
Free desks, fast WiFi and power at nearly every seat on Southern Avenue, east of MCC's Southern and Dobson campus. Food all day, a library, and nothing to book.
· Working here, Community
Can you take a video call from a coffee shop?
Yes, with a decent connection, headphones and the right seat. How to do it without bothering the room, and when to book a room with a door instead.
· Working here, Beanchain
Where to meet a client in Mesa
A coffee shop table is fine for a first conversation. Anything private wants a room you can book by the hour. How to choose, and what our conference room has.
· Working here, Beanchain
A full workday at Beanchain, from first coffee to close
What a whole day of work in our free Mesa workspace looks like: where to sit, what to eat and when, and how to finish the last hour without rushing it.
· Working here, Community
Between jobs? Come and use the desk
Looking for work is a full-time job with no office. Our shared workspace in Mesa is free to use, with a desk, WiFi and power at nearly every seat.
· Working here, Worker direction
Why we give the desks away
Our shared workspace has no day rate and no membership. That was a decision made by the people who work here, and this is the reasoning behind it.
· Initiatives, Community
Taking the Pay It Forward board off the wall
The corkboard worked, and only if you were standing in front of it. What PIF Board does now, what it still needs, and what we want it to grow into.
· Handbook, Worker direction
Handbook: getting a shop out of one person's head
Training, checklists and inventory in one system, built because we needed it here first. Why a business has to be written down before it can be handed over.
· Solution Seeking System, Leadership
What we do instead of a disciplinary process
Most trouble between two people at work has no fault in it worth finding. The protocol we use in place of a disciplinary process, and where it came from.
· Working here, Community
How to Stay Productive Working From a Coffee Shop
Working from a coffee shop can improve focus when you choose the right seat, plan work blocks, manage distractions, and use reliable WiFi.
· Working here, Community
Best Coffee Shops to Work Remotely in Mesa 2026 Guide
Five Mesa coffee shops rated on WiFi, outlets, seating, noise and food for a day of laptop work. One of them is ours, and we say so before the list starts.
· Leadership, Cooperatives
Worker Direction: Philosophy and Practice (Update)
Worker Direction is our approach to building a workplace culture that prioritizes democracy, participation, proper incentives, and mutual respect. It draws on the 7…
· Community, Initiatives
Be Part of Developing the Solution Seeking System
The Solution Seeking System started here at the Beanchain as a way for us to train great leaders and inspire amazing communication. Today, it’s growing into…
· Community, Poverty
How You Can Help Us Fight Poverty, Together
At Beanchain, our commitment to community runs deep. Whether it's serving a meal, raising awareness, or building connections, we believe everyone can be part of the…
· Community, Coffee
The Top 10 Beanchain Drinks You Need to Try
At Beanchain, our baristas love getting creative with flavor. From cozy lattes that taste like your favorite desserts to refreshing specialty drinks inspired by our…
· Community, Coffee
How to Start and Run a Pay It Forward Board
A Pay It Forward Board is a simple, low-cost way to fight food insecurity, build community loyalty, and highlight your business as a hub of kindness. Customers buy…
· Community, Leadership
Brewing Cooperation: How Beanchain Lives the Cooperative Principles
A workplace built on the Seven Cooperative Principles, the global guidebook for worker-owned businesses. At Beanchain, these principles aren’t abstract ideals…
· Working here, Community
Perfect Coffee + Co-Working Space: Beanchain’s Workspace Hacks
How to get the most out of our free workspace in Mesa: where to sit, what to ask at the counter, when to book the conference room and where to take a break.
· Worker direction, Solution Seeking System
Try our Solution Seeking GPTs
Try our Solution Seeking GPTs. We need your help to test out some of the tools we're making for leadership and communication!
· Leadership, Initiatives
The Solution Seeking System
The Solution Seeking System (SSS) is a structured communication framework designed to help individuals and organizations solve interpersonal problems, navigate…
· Leadership, Cooperatives
Building a Better Workplace: Beanchain's Worker-Directed Philosophy
In an era defined by stagnant wages, workplace abuses, and deepening mistrust between workers and management, Beanchain Coffee is pioneering a refreshing…
· Community, Leadership
Why We Started Beanchain
Why We Started Beanchain. My wife Shannon and I created Beanchain as a living experiment in economic justice. It is a worker-directed company, meaning we are…
· Community, Coffee
Best of Beanchain: What Customers Are Saying
Best of Beanchain: What Customers Are Saying From glowing reviews across platforms, a few consistent themes show why Beanchain Coffee stands apart. We gathered some…
· Community, Cooperatives
How to Get Involved with Beanchain Coffee’s Mission
Beanchain Coffee isn’t your ordinary coffee shop. Based in Mesa, Arizona, Beanchain is pioneering a unique model, worker-directed businesses that prioritize…
· Community, Cooperatives
Beanchain Coffee: Building a Better World through Worker-Directed Business
Beanchain Coffee: Building a Better World through Worker-Directed Business. Beanchain's core mission is ambitious and clear: to build fair, worker-directed coffee…
· Community, Cooperatives
10 Reasons Beanchain Coffee is the Best Coffee Shop in Mesa (and Probably Everywhere else too)
10 Reasons Beanchain Coffee is the Best Coffee Shop in Mesa! At Beanchain Coffee, we’ve built more than just a coffee shop. We’ve built a community. While it might…
· Community, Leadership
All about Beanchain Coffee
Learn all about Beanchain Coffee! Beanchain Coffee is a worker-directed coffee shop and community space in Mesa, Arizona. Founded in 2023, we are proving that a…
· Coffee
Mastering the Art of Steaming Milk for the Perfect Latte Experience
Creating a perfect latte is not just about coffee; it’s an experience that begins with the milk. Steaming milk properly can elevate your latte from good to…
· Leadership, Cooperatives
The Solution Seeking System Brief
TLDR one linerThe Solution Seeking System assists systems(any group of people) by identifying solutions that improve communication, connection, wisdom, leadership…
· Community, Poverty
The Heart of Beanchain: Community-Centric Features That Make Us Different
Learn what makes the Beanchain a community-centric coffee shop in this article! The Heart of Beanchain: Community-Centric Features That Make Us Different
· Leadership, Solution Seeking System
Understanding: The Foundation of the Solution Seeking System
Understanding is the fundamental principle that supports all others in the Solution Seeking System. This system is built on the essential presupposition that…
· Leadership, Worker direction
The Art and Science of Effective One-on-One Meetings (A comprehensive guide to one-on-ones)
One-on-one meetings are a cornerstone of effective leadership and team management. They create a dedicated space for open communication, relationship building, and…
· Community, Leadership
The Art of Effective Feedback: A Comprehensive Guide
Feedback is a critical component of personal and professional growth. When delivered effectively, it serves as a powerful tool for improvement, learning, and…
Beanchain Turns Two: Join Us for a 70s-Themed Celebration!
Beanchain Turns Two: Join Us for a 70s-Themed Celebration Saturday, June 28th | 8am–4pm | Beanchain Coffee, Mesa AZIt's Beanchain Coffee's Second Anniversary!We’re…
· Poverty, Worker direction
Welcome to Beanchain Coffee!
Discover Beanchain Coffee! Your poverty fighting worker-directed coffee shop in Mesa, AZ. Visit Beanchain Coffee for a cozy spot and delicious brews on West Southern…