Mother Earth Coffee Shop opened in a 2,000-square-foot space last week in the International at 3504 Gilham. This is the brand’s first standalone retail location outside of a hospital.

The new space will offer multiple seating arrangements for more than 60 people and amenities such as Wi-Fi, a community room and fireplace. In keeping with the brand’s mission of sustainability, the interior is decorated with all-natural products.

In an effort to leave a minimal environmental impact, the coffee shop will offer three bins for recycling, glass and compost.

“From the start, we developed Mother Earth Coffee knowing each and every single thing we would buy and how it would be disposed. We believe building a recycling program and ensuring sustainability in our business processes is the responsibility of our brand,” said Scott Presnell, Mother Earth Coffee’s director of marketing.

The company will soon launch a community recycling program. People will be able to collect coffee grounds for flower beds, use burlap from coffee bags for ground cover in community gardens, and be invited to participate in a community organics recycling program. The café will also donate its day-old bakery items to local charities.

Only natural materials are used in the growing and production of coffee crops, and Mother Earth Coffee purchases coffee crops directly from the farms at or above sustainable pricing. The company uses fully-certified and organic processes in the storage, handling and roasting of the coffee. All processes are conducted in Kansas City.

Mother Earth Coffee has developed five distinct coffee blends—Organic Medium Roast, Organic Breakfast Blend, Organic Dark Roast, Organic Decaffeinated and Organic Espresso—as well as a menu featuring organic cold brew blends, organic espresso-based drinks, smoothies, blended ice coffees, organic teas, chai, fresh-baked pastries and desserts, all-day breakfast items, salads and sandwiches.

Hours for the retail store will be Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

In 2015, the company opened two locations in cooperation with Shawnee Mission Health as well as a full-service coffee shop at the hospital’s Prairie Star location at K-7 and Prairie Star Parkway in Lenexa.

The Mother Earth Coffee brand is owned by Paris Brothers Specialty Foods, Inc.