The Bean

Just like at most offices, coffee is the stimulant-of-choice at any military or diplomatic station.  The International Zone is no exception, nor are the military bases scattered around Iraq!  There must be hundreds of gallons of coffee served here on a daily basis.  Coffee is free at the Dining Facility (DFac), and at the coffee station inside the Embassy.  However, for coffee aficionados, there's evidently nothing like a cup of coffee from The Green Bean.  It's the military/diplomatic version of Starbucks, and can be found at almost every military outpost in Iraq, and at other military outposts in the Middle East. 

Inside the Embassy, there's a large room with a coffee shop over in the corner.....the "Green Bean" as it's affectionately known.  The large room is filled with small tables, along with some couches and soft chairs.  This is the central meeting place inside the Embassy.  There aren't many formal meeting rooms, and they're usually busy.  So, if you want to meet with someone, or a few people, you generally meet "at the Bean".  

As I've traveled around Iraq, I'm always impressed by the presence of the Green Bean coffee shops.  What a treat it is for our troops to get a big cup of their favorite coffee.  I'm impressed that a company would dedicate itself to serving our troops.  I've never run across this company, so went to the internet to learn more.  From their website, here's a short history:

"During a business trip to the Middle East, Jason Araghi had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to bring Saudi Arabia its first gourmet coffeehouse, and opened the Art Nouveau Cafe in 1996.  U.S. Army personnel at nearby Eskan Village caught word about the new coffeehouse, and soon after, invited Jason to open a cafe on the US Army base. Within months of operating at Eskan Village, the Air Force extended an invitation for a further 3 locations at the Prince Sultan Air Base, in Al-Kharj KSA.

Today, GBCC Inc. serves military personnel in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Djibouti, Africa. The company has not only grown in locations, but also in its mission to support our men and women in uniform.

Every corporate mission statement reads like a litany of values too good to argue with, yet too ordinary to matter. Not ours. Our 10-year heritage of supporting those that put their lives at stake for our country is firmly rooted and non-negotiable. That heritage of caring is the foundation of our operating philosophy."

I see that the company is actually known as Green Beans Coffee Company.  So, here's a tip-of-the-hat to a good company that's serving good coffee, frappes, cappucino, tea, smoothies, muffins, etc., to our troops who are away from home!  I see from their website that you can buy a Green Beans gift card for a soldier, even if you don't know a soldier over here.  

If you get over here, give me a call....I'll meet you at the Green Bean!