Can’t afford our Specialty coffee, or looking for cheaper prices?
We understand that our coffee might be slightly higher in price when compared to commodity coffee. Balancing between high quality and affordability can be a tricky task for us.
We pride ourselves in ensuring our coffee provides a livable wage to farmers, as well as ensuring sustainable environmental practices.
That being said, we occasionally offer an alternative method of payment known as the Penny University, a system where you can offer to share skills and knowledge in exchange for coffee.
However we only set aside a portion of our coffee stock for the Penny University as to allow everyone to enjoy sustainable specialty grade, regardless of your financial background.
Longyearbyen is filled with a variety of people with different skills and knowledge and we at the Svalbard Roastery are always keen to learn more and grow beyond the realm of coffee.
If you wish to take part in this, then just send us an email with what you are willing to share and if mutually agreeable we can continue.
Origin and History
The concept of The Penny University originated in 17th century Oxford, where the first coffee houses originated. It was within these coffee houses that visitors would pay a penny for a bowl of coffee and thus share in the company of a wide variety of social classes, race and professions leading to the exchange of ideas, beliefs and skills.
Indeed these coffee houses have inspired the works of people such as Sir issac Newton and numerous poets.
This free thought and influence on the public became a problem for the government and King Charles the second moved to shut them down, later to require suitable licensing.
Future in Longyearbyen?
In future we would like to promote such a culture of skill sharing once again in Longyearbyen, bringing an exchange of knowledge and skills to everyone willing to take part. If you would wish to be involved in this then please feel free to contact us.