Coffee is one of those topics that causes a somewhat surprising amount of debate. On one hand, people who love their morning fix and know a lot about the quality of coffee often insist on only the best beans, roasted in exactly the right way, and presented just so. On the other, there’s a lot of controversy surrounding the lengths that the Western world will go to in order to keep the price of coffee low, and the quality high.

In particular, a lot of attention has been drawn to the way the bean farmers are treated in the supply chain, and how those who are actually responsible for the production of the world’s best coffee are the ones who get the shortest straw when it comes to distributing the profits.

At Exygy, many of us do love our morning cuppa (and some of us in the afternoon, as well!), but of course we also place a lot of importance on knowing where our food (and drink) comes from, and whether or not everyone along the way is getting an appropriate share of the profits.

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the lengths that the Western world will go to in order to keep the price of coffee low

 

Fair Trade coffee, of course, has been in the spotlight for quite a long time, so the idea of rewarding farmers for their work is certainly nothing new. However, with some doubt being cast on whether or not the Fair Trade system really works out that much better for farmers and producers, and whether the money ever reaches those whom the system is supposed to be helping, some companies are going several steps further to ensure that the right thing is done for the people who do most of the hard work in coffee bean production.

A New Wave of Socially-Conscious Coffee

Just as with any other social issue, as new information becomes available, people in a position to help can build on what has been done in the past, and modify the assistance process to better benefit those on the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. In the coffee industry, it has become clear over time that there needs to be a way to eliminate a lot of the extra steps between grower and consumer, and quite a few forward-thinking companies are coming forward to try to solve that problem.

One Village Coffee, proud to call itself a founding B Corp, is one such company. The idea for One Village started back in 2000, when the founders traveled to Honduras and Africa and witnessed how many developing nations are driven by communities of people all working together to create a better life for everyone in the local area.

They brought these ideas back to their home in Pennsylvania, and decided to apply them by creating a coffee company that would better connect coffee drinkers to those who just want to support their families with their farming.

One Village is a Fair Trade coffee company with a direct connection to the farms that produce their coffee

Officially launched in 2007, One Village is a Fair Trade coffee company with a difference. Aside from having a direct connection with the farms that produce their coffee, they have also launched a range of other projects.

For example, one project led them to Nigeria, where they help coffee farmers develop sustainable and profitable cultivation practices. In addition, they’re also committed to giving back a portion of their profits to the communities they’re trying to help, promoting an environment where these farmers can then help themselves and prosper.

Handing Over Ownership

One way to make sure that owners get a fair shake is to let them own and control the coffee production themselves. Pachamama Coffee is a grower-owned cooperative with proceeds going directly back to the farmers. Member coops are spread across several developing nations, creating little microsystems where small-scale coffee farmers actually have a chance not only of surviving, but thriving.

Pachamama launched in 2011 as the first global CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for coffee. After more than three years of successfully creating direct connections between coffee buyers and farmers, the company is now going one step further to promote sustainable business practices for the coop. They’ve started a Kickstarter campaign with the goal of raising enough money (combined with Pachamama’s own contribution) to purchase a zero-emissions coffee bean roaster for their California warehouse.

They’ve started a Kickstarter campaign with the goal of raising enough money to purchase a zero-emissions coffee bean roaster

 

This not only helps the coop achieve its mission of providing the highest quality coffee, but also helps reduce its carbon footprint while doing so.

As we watch the evolving trend toward socially-conscious food, it’s nice to see that coffee – often used as an example of how Fair Trade is failing – is one of the industries where businesses are starting to pay particular attention to the fairness of the supply chain.

One Village and Pachamama certainly aren’t the only companies in the coffee sector to focus on sustainability and good trade practices, but they are good places to start looking if you like to keep coffee in your home or office, and the origin and effect of your purchases matters to you.