View entire thread: EstateKona.com
Posted by EstateKona on 2008-09-02 09:37:15 Post Subject: EstateKona.com
Greetings Coffee Forum Members,
My partner and I launched a farm-direct 100% Single Estate Grown Kona Coffee partnership with a handful of excellent small family coffee farms on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our website is:
http://EstateKona.com
EstateKona.com started with three values, quality, clarity and patriotism. We believe that 100% Single Estate Kona coffee is the quintessential example of a high quality untainted product made right in the United States of America. After discovering Kona coffee, we spent months testing all varieties of Kona coffee from every source possible.
Over a few caffeine fueled months we assembled a small list of farms that produce consistent high quality first class Kona beans. After befriending these growers, we learned that these farms sell a majority of their excellent crop to bulk distributors to barely break-even. These distributors mix these top quality Kona with lesser quality beans, immediately roast them in bulk, and sell to the end customer months later at a staggering premium.
At EstateKona.com, we recognize the extra cost of Kona, and we value the educated purchases of all Kona buyers. Each customer spending a premium on fine Kona coffee should receive the highest quality Kona with no compromises. Additionally, each first class Kona grower should also be rewarded for their amazing work.
EstateKona.com is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality Kona beans while supporting small family Kona farms.
Each Order EstateKona.com fulfills will:
• Contain 100% Single Estate Grown Kona Coffee Beans;
• Contain strictly graded Beans according to the Hawaii Administrative Rules;
• Be roasted only upon order to your exact specifications;
• Be stored in a light blocking, vented and re-sealable plastic pouch;
• Be clearly labeled with the exact Estate Number, Roast Date and Grade; and
• Sell in a single weight, the Imperial Pound (lb).
EstateKona.com will not:
• Sell Gourmet Blend, Hawaiian Blend, Kona Blend, or any blend containing Kona;
• Sell beans grown outside the Kona Coffee District;
• Confuse our customers with measurements in Ounces or Grams. Remember, 16 ounces equals One Pound, not 12 Ounces!
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Posted by EstateKona on 2008-09-02 09:37:15 Post Subject: EstateKona.com
Greetings Coffee Forum Members,
My partner and I launched a farm-direct 100% Single Estate Grown Kona Coffee partnership with a handful of excellent small family coffee farms on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our website is:
http://EstateKona.com
EstateKona.com started with three values, quality, clarity and patriotism. We believe that 100% Single Estate Kona coffee is the quintessential example of a high quality untainted product made right in the United States of America. After discovering Kona coffee, we spent months testing all varieties of Kona coffee from every source possible.
Over a few caffeine fueled months we assembled a small list of farms that produce consistent high quality first class Kona beans. After befriending these growers, we learned that these farms sell a majority of their excellent crop to bulk distributors to barely break-even. These distributors mix these top quality Kona with lesser quality beans, immediately roast them in bulk, and sell to the end customer months later at a staggering premium.
At EstateKona.com, we recognize the extra cost of Kona, and we value the educated purchases of all Kona buyers. Each customer spending a premium on fine Kona coffee should receive the highest quality Kona with no compromises. Additionally, each first class Kona grower should also be rewarded for their amazing work.
EstateKona.com is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality Kona beans while supporting small family Kona farms.
Each Order EstateKona.com fulfills will:
• Contain 100% Single Estate Grown Kona Coffee Beans;
• Contain strictly graded Beans according to the Hawaii Administrative Rules;
• Be roasted only upon order to your exact specifications;
• Be stored in a light blocking, vented and re-sealable plastic pouch;
• Be clearly labeled with the exact Estate Number, Roast Date and Grade; and
• Sell in a single weight, the Imperial Pound (lb).
EstateKona.com will not:
• Sell Gourmet Blend, Hawaiian Blend, Kona Blend, or any blend containing Kona;
• Sell beans grown outside the Kona Coffee District;
• Confuse our customers with measurements in Ounces or Grams. Remember, 16 ounces equals One Pound, not 12 Ounces!
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View entire thread: PR- Volcanica Coffee Announces the Addition of Fair Trade
Posted by buck100 on 2008-07-26 21:48:20 Post Subject: PR- Volcanica Coffee Announces the Addition of Fair Trade
Volcanica Coffee™ – – Volcanica Coffee Announces the Addition of Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Coffees.
Today, Volcanica Coffee announced a new addition to their product line and now offers coffees that are both Fair Trade Certified and Rain Forest Alliance Certified. Coffees that help the pay a fair trade to the farmers and protect the local rain forest originate from Costa Rica
Fort Lauderdale, FL July 28, 2008 -- Today, Volcanica Coffee announced the addition of Fair Trade Alliance and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffees. These new gourmet coffees originate from the famous Tarrazu coffee growing region in Costa Rica.
The Costa Rica coffee farms that supply Volcanica Coffee meet the both the Fair Trade Alliance and Rain Forest Alliance's comprehensive criteria and have received the certification seal. “Volcanica Coffee is proud to be able to offer Costa Rican coffees from Tarrazu that helps protect the famous rainforests of Costa Rica and promote the well being of the farmer families and communities in Costa Rica” said Diane Contreras, Volcanica Coffee vice president of sales.
The Fair Trade Certified designation means is that it empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace and protecting the environment.
Fair Trade Certified Coffee includes several areas covering more than just paying a fair price for the gourmet coffee. The Fair Trade Certification includes: Fair price, Fair labor conditions, direct trade, democratic and transparent organizations, community development and environmentally sustainability.
The Rainforest Alliance works to ensure sustainable livelihoods and conserve biodiversity by transforming business practices, consumer behavior and land-use practices. The Rainforest Alliance sets standards for sustainability that conserve wildlife and wild lands and it promotes the well-being of workers and their communities where they live. These coffees and be found at Volcanica Costa Rican Coffee.
Volcanica Gourmet Coffee is a specialty importer and retailer of exotic single origin gourmet coffee beans. The Company is committed to offering only the finest quality coffee from volcanic regions around the world that is wonderfully exotic and remarkable in taste. The Volcanica Coffee website is located at www.VolcanicaCoffee.com .
###
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Posted by buck100 on 2008-07-26 21:48:20 Post Subject: PR- Volcanica Coffee Announces the Addition of Fair Trade
Volcanica Coffee™ – – Volcanica Coffee Announces the Addition of Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Coffees.
Today, Volcanica Coffee announced a new addition to their product line and now offers coffees that are both Fair Trade Certified and Rain Forest Alliance Certified. Coffees that help the pay a fair trade to the farmers and protect the local rain forest originate from Costa Rica
Fort Lauderdale, FL July 28, 2008 -- Today, Volcanica Coffee announced the addition of Fair Trade Alliance and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffees. These new gourmet coffees originate from the famous Tarrazu coffee growing region in Costa Rica.
The Costa Rica coffee farms that supply Volcanica Coffee meet the both the Fair Trade Alliance and Rain Forest Alliance's comprehensive criteria and have received the certification seal. “Volcanica Coffee is proud to be able to offer Costa Rican coffees from Tarrazu that helps protect the famous rainforests of Costa Rica and promote the well being of the farmer families and communities in Costa Rica” said Diane Contreras, Volcanica Coffee vice president of sales.
The Fair Trade Certified designation means is that it empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace and protecting the environment.
Fair Trade Certified Coffee includes several areas covering more than just paying a fair price for the gourmet coffee. The Fair Trade Certification includes: Fair price, Fair labor conditions, direct trade, democratic and transparent organizations, community development and environmentally sustainability.
The Rainforest Alliance works to ensure sustainable livelihoods and conserve biodiversity by transforming business practices, consumer behavior and land-use practices. The Rainforest Alliance sets standards for sustainability that conserve wildlife and wild lands and it promotes the well-being of workers and their communities where they live. These coffees and be found at Volcanica Costa Rican Coffee.
Volcanica Gourmet Coffee is a specialty importer and retailer of exotic single origin gourmet coffee beans. The Company is committed to offering only the finest quality coffee from volcanic regions around the world that is wonderfully exotic and remarkable in taste. The Volcanica Coffee website is located at www.VolcanicaCoffee.com .
###
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View entire thread: Volcanica Coffee announces the start of their 2006 harvest
Posted by buck100 on 2006-02-14 13:08:57 Post Subject: Volcanica Coffee announces the start of their 2006 harvest
February 13, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, FL
Volcanica Coffee announces the start of their 2006 gourmet coffee harvest in Costa Rica.
Today, Volcanica Coffee announced the kick off of the 2006 gourmet coffee harvest in Costa Rica. The gourmet coffee farms that supply Volcanica Coffee have started the laborious process of the annual harvest.
The harvest is taking place in the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica which is located in the high mountains south of San Jose. The high altitude of 5,000 feet above sea level is a main contributor to the elegant flavor in the Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee but the steep sloping volcanic mountains make it very difficult to farm. Coffee plants must be picked by hand then carried long distances to the closest road for pick up. The other challenges facing farmers in this region is the scarcity of workers to pick the harvest.
We are very excited that another harvest is upon us which literally brings us the fruits of our labor over the past year says Jorge Umana the manager of the Don Evelio Coffee Estate which is a major supplier to Volcanica Coffee. “The first cupping from the harvest indicates that we have another great gourmet coffee crop for 2006â€
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Posted by buck100 on 2006-02-14 13:08:57 Post Subject: Volcanica Coffee announces the start of their 2006 harvest
February 13, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, FL
Volcanica Coffee announces the start of their 2006 gourmet coffee harvest in Costa Rica.
Today, Volcanica Coffee announced the kick off of the 2006 gourmet coffee harvest in Costa Rica. The gourmet coffee farms that supply Volcanica Coffee have started the laborious process of the annual harvest.
The harvest is taking place in the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica which is located in the high mountains south of San Jose. The high altitude of 5,000 feet above sea level is a main contributor to the elegant flavor in the Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee but the steep sloping volcanic mountains make it very difficult to farm. Coffee plants must be picked by hand then carried long distances to the closest road for pick up. The other challenges facing farmers in this region is the scarcity of workers to pick the harvest.
We are very excited that another harvest is upon us which literally brings us the fruits of our labor over the past year says Jorge Umana the manager of the Don Evelio Coffee Estate which is a major supplier to Volcanica Coffee. “The first cupping from the harvest indicates that we have another great gourmet coffee crop for 2006â€
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View entire thread: farm/labor conditions: overlooked in judging quality?
Posted by dragon lee on 2006-12-22 04:22:08 Post Subject: farm/labor conditions: overlooked in judging quality?
hi all, this is my first post here. i know almost nothing about coffee and have no palette to speak of, but i've recently become fascinated with the overwhelming complexity of the production and hence taste of coffee. i have been raised on terribly cheap (though cool!) coffee from the likes of folgers and starbucks, and drinking some of it today something came to mind.
first, let me say that one thing i became interested in a year or so back was oxfam.org and maketradefair and their promotion of the fair trade cert. for coffee. what this did for me in terms of my knowledge of the industry is shed light on how across the board coffee is produced in poor countries close to the equator by generally terribly exploited brown-skinned people and families for rich countries and the rich people in those countries that are so rich that they tend to have the time to care about things like coffee. (i care about the justice of it all but i'm not complaining too much-- i am one of those rich people... the paradox of the lazy activist.)
anyway, i've always said that folgers' colombian roast tastes like stroganoff. in other words, musty, framented, etc.
reading some literature on how coffee is categorized by taste, i came across something that said that over-ripe cherries tend to produce such a taste. i also read somewhere that colombia is the only remaining mass-produced single-origin bean out there and that it makes up 12% of the world's product.
the conclusion that i came to, and i might be wrong (and really the reason i chose to post this is to hear some responses to this general claim in the subject heading), is that the taste of this coffee has more to do with how the farms and the farm labor are set up, from he economic standpoint. could it not be true that the distinctive taste of this outrageously over-produced bean really comes from the fact that farms in colombia are huge and the labor is cheap but much too quick and therefore the cause of workers processing a huge amount of over-ripe cherries? that is to say, at least when it comes to the really over-produced stuff sold by those "big coffee" companies?
on top of that, how does the fact that the majority of the coffee farms in the world are small and family-owned factor into the end-value? isn't a small farm ideal because of the workers' tendancy to hand-pick cherries?
forgive me if my logic is flawed or if i've made too many sweeping generalizations. any knowledge of these factors' effect on the taste of coffee would be much appreciated.
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Posted by dragon lee on 2006-12-22 04:22:08 Post Subject: farm/labor conditions: overlooked in judging quality?
hi all, this is my first post here. i know almost nothing about coffee and have no palette to speak of, but i've recently become fascinated with the overwhelming complexity of the production and hence taste of coffee. i have been raised on terribly cheap (though cool!) coffee from the likes of folgers and starbucks, and drinking some of it today something came to mind.
first, let me say that one thing i became interested in a year or so back was oxfam.org and maketradefair and their promotion of the fair trade cert. for coffee. what this did for me in terms of my knowledge of the industry is shed light on how across the board coffee is produced in poor countries close to the equator by generally terribly exploited brown-skinned people and families for rich countries and the rich people in those countries that are so rich that they tend to have the time to care about things like coffee. (i care about the justice of it all but i'm not complaining too much-- i am one of those rich people... the paradox of the lazy activist.)
anyway, i've always said that folgers' colombian roast tastes like stroganoff. in other words, musty, framented, etc.
reading some literature on how coffee is categorized by taste, i came across something that said that over-ripe cherries tend to produce such a taste. i also read somewhere that colombia is the only remaining mass-produced single-origin bean out there and that it makes up 12% of the world's product.
the conclusion that i came to, and i might be wrong (and really the reason i chose to post this is to hear some responses to this general claim in the subject heading), is that the taste of this coffee has more to do with how the farms and the farm labor are set up, from he economic standpoint. could it not be true that the distinctive taste of this outrageously over-produced bean really comes from the fact that farms in colombia are huge and the labor is cheap but much too quick and therefore the cause of workers processing a huge amount of over-ripe cherries? that is to say, at least when it comes to the really over-produced stuff sold by those "big coffee" companies?
on top of that, how does the fact that the majority of the coffee farms in the world are small and family-owned factor into the end-value? isn't a small farm ideal because of the workers' tendancy to hand-pick cherries?
forgive me if my logic is flawed or if i've made too many sweeping generalizations. any knowledge of these factors' effect on the taste of coffee would be much appreciated.
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View entire thread: fair trade article
Posted by topher on 2004-10-07 10:49:29 Post Subject: fair trade article
Fair Trade coffee demand sparks debate on workers' wages, lives
BY JAKE BATSELL
The Seattle Times
BALGUE, Nicaragua - (KRT) - Coffee has helped provide water for Jose Felix Centeno Castillo's home, school for his nine children and a better life for his fellow farmers.
Castillo and other members of his farming cooperative receive among the highest prices in the coffee industry - $1.61 a pound - for the beans they grow under towering trees on the volcano slopes of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua.
But do not look for a Fair Trade Certified label on the packages that carry Castillo's coffee. That coveted stamp of approval costs money - farmers and roasters pay for the label - and would shave hundreds of dollars from his co-op's annual earnings.
The co-op's coffee, sold in the United States by a Bainbridge Island, Wash., nonprofit, is marketed as "fair-traded." It is a semantic difference that highlights a growing debate within the specialty-coffee industry about workers' wages and their quality of life.
Booming U.S. demand for Fair Trade coffee has triggered an industrywide tiff about what exactly "fair" means when it comes to paying farmers.
Oakland, Calif.-based TransFair USA labels Fair Trade coffee after certifying it was grown by small-scale farm co-ops that were paid a fair price - at least $1.26 a pound - for their beans.
Other growers and sellers are finding ways to call attention to their sustainably grown coffees, which they say also provide a decent living for farmers. Fair Trade label or not, they say, their coffee is sustainably grown, or farmed in a way that respects the environment and is fair to workers.
"To say that everything else that we're doing is not good, and what they're doing is good - it's been a big struggle for us," said Pete Rogers, green-coffee buyer for JBR Gourmet Foods in San Leandro, Calif.
JBR often pays more than Fair Trade prices for its coffee, Rogers said, and it sponsors dozens of community-development programs in countries such as Mexico and Zambia.
"What they (TransFair USA) have done is a great job of selling the public on the idea," said Seattle's Best Coffee founder Jim Stewart, who sold his stake in Seattle's Best but still owns an organic coffee farm in Costa Rica. "It's kind of an easy way out. You see that stamp and you say, `Ha.'"
---
Volatile swings in the global coffee supply have slashed wages for thousands of farmers and workers in recent years.
Unroasted coffee beans that sold for nearly $2 a pound wholesale in 1997 dipped to under 50 cents a pound in 2002 - a price below many farmers' production costs, which generally average 60 cents to 90 cents a pound in Central America. Prices now hover between 70 and 80 cents a pound.
Fair Trade Certified coffee spares farmers from the ups and downs of commodities markets by establishing a minimum price for their product - currently $1.26 a pound for arabica beans, the type preferred by specialty roasters. Independent monitors confirm farms receive the Fair Trade price.
Since it began certifying coffee in 1998, TransFair USA has seen demand rise sharply for packages bearing its black-and-white Fair Trade label. Last year, the organization certified 18.7 million pounds of coffee, nearly doubling its 2002 total.
Dunkin' Donuts recently introduced a line of Fair Trade espresso drinks, and even canned-coffee giant Procter & Gamble, maker of Folgers, has developed a Fair Trade blend under its Millstone label.
Other retailers have taken the concept much further - a Fair Trade-only coffee company called Equal Exchange has become increasingly popular with church groups around the country, and Caffe Ladro, a seven-store independent chain in Seattle, serves "triple-certified" coffee that is Fair Trade, organic and shade-grown. Retail prices vary, but Fair Trade, organic and shade-grown coffees are generally a bit more expensive than standard specialty coffees - a few cents more for espresso drinks and about $1 more for a 1-pound bag.
"The vast majority of consumers and citizens in this country sympathize with the underdog," said TransFair USA Chief Executive Officer Paul Rice. "If presented with a choice between coffee that helps people and coffee that doesn't, it's natural they would want to choose coffee that helps people."
Buying coffee stamped with the Fair Trade label "is a relatively effortless way for people to make a difference in the world," TransFair USA Chief Executive Officer Paul Rice said.
TransFair's model requires Fair Trade farms to be part of a democratically run co-op, a rule that has riled owners of larger farms and estates who complain they are shut out from the Fair Trade system even though they treat their workers well and pay them fairly.
Meanwhile, several smaller U.S. roasters who had sold 100 percent Fair Trade coffee broke their alliance with TransFair earlier this year, contending TransFair has become too cozy with coffee corporations such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, whose Fair Trade offerings amount to a small fraction of their total coffee supply.
Even some who are eligible for Fair Trade status say they do not see why they should pay TransFair's certification fee, which until recently had been 10 cents a pound, to simply rubber-stamp what they already know to be fair and ethical business practices.
That is the stance of the Bainbridge-Ometepe Sister Island Association, which pays $1.61 a pound for the coffee grown by Castillo's co-op on Ometepe Island and sells it to Seattle-area retailers. All the coffee's profits pay for community-improvement projects on the Nicaraguan island.
"Ten cents a pound, when we do 14,000 pounds a year, is a lot of money that can go back to Ometepe," said Lee Robinson, the association's treasurer.
Rice says TransFair has reduced its certification fee schedule to as low as 5 cents a pound. He says he understands why a sister-island association based on direct personal interaction would find it unnecessary to pay for third-party certification.
But on a larger scale, he said, the Fair Trade label provides skeptical consumers with verification that companies are paying fair prices to growers.
"It doesn't mean we are the only way, but right now we are the only company that provides independent verification," Rice said.
---
A number of U.S. roasters and retailers say TransFair's model is one of many ways to protect farmers and the environment through sustainable growing methods - that is, techniques that benefit workers and the environment.
Starbucks, which says Fair Trade coffee accounts for about 1 percent of the coffee it buys, started an incentive system three years ago that paid premiums of up to 10 cents a pound to growers who met certain social and environmental criteria, such as paying at least minimum wage and treating and recycling the water used to wash beans. Starbucks says it paid an average of $1.20 a pound for the unroasted coffee it bought last year.
JBR Gourmet Foods, whose signature product is its 3-pound bags of San Francisco Bay French Roast sold at Costco stores, says it pays at least $1.38 a pound at 18 coffee farms around the world. It also pays for community projects, which have included schools, medical clinics and a baseball field.
While his company makes three Fair Trade blends under its Organic Coffee Co. brand, Rogers said the Fair Trade logo can leave consumers with a misguided perception that any other coffee is not sustainably grown.
"We really believe we're making more of a direct impact with what we do," Rogers said.
Jim Stewart, who founded Seattle's Best Coffee before selling his stake but still owns an organic coffee farm in Costa Rica, said TransFair's set prices can reduce the incentive for farmers and workers to produce a high-quality crop.
Instead, Stewart said he prefers to encourage workers to pick ripe beans by offering perks based on a full season's harvest. During Stewart's tenure at Seattle's Best, the company earmarked profits from each year's crop for projects such as schools and water pumps. He and his wife, farm owner Luz Marina Trujillo, still deliver new school uniforms each year to the families who work at their farms in Costa Rica.
The incentive-based approach, Stewart said, tells workers that "because you've done such a good job, your coffee has more international value, and here's some of that value for you to use in your community."
"It's not just more money - `Here it is, good luck,'" Stewart said. "It's a reward. It's not a gift. It's not a donation. It's not charity."
Rice said while community projects sponsored by individual coffee companies are commendable and well-intentioned, they also can be seen as a form of paternalism.
"We just believe there's a more sustainable model that empowers farmers to help themselves," Rice said.
Global demand for Fair Trade coffee is still relatively low - Fair Trade coffee accounts for perhaps 5 percent of specialty-coffee sales in the U.S. - but that demand is growing. Rice said Fair Trade farmers have plenty of incentive to strive for top quality. If they do not pay attention to quality, he said, their coffee will not sell.
---
With demand rising for Fair Trade and other eco- and worker-friendly coffees, caffeinated consumers are wading through what can be a confusing array of labels. Shoppers perusing the 12-ounce bags at their favorite espresso bar or grocery store often must choose between organic or shade-grown, or Fair Trade versus fair-traded.
A recent stroll down a Safeway aisle found coffees bearing three organic logos, the Fair Trade symbol and descriptions including shade-grown and "100% mountain farmed."
Rogers suggests the U.S. government take up the issue of Fair Trade coffee, similar to how the U.S. Agriculture Department recently introduced a "USDA Organic" logo.
"There's all these myriads of certifications out there that confuse the consumer," Rogers said. "If the government were willing to get involved with Fair Trade, I think that would be a very positive step for the consumer."
---
The Carlos Diaz Cajina Cooperative on Ometepe Island is not part of the Fair Trade program. But with the co-op's coffee selling for $1.61 a pound, its farmers say they feel fairly compensated. During the Sandinista era in the 1980s, they received less than 20 cents a pound.
"We have a better life," Castillo, 66, said through an interpreter. "Before, selling coffee at that price, I didn't have the money to survive. I didn't have money for the food I needed, for clothes."
Coffee profits have brought a water system to his village and helped him pay school fees for his six sons and three daughters, he said.
"Maybe it's not that our houses are nicer and we live like rich people, but now I can do things like send my kids to school," Castillo said. "Now, I'm not just subsisting. I can live more comfortably."
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Posted by topher on 2004-10-07 10:49:29 Post Subject: fair trade article
Fair Trade coffee demand sparks debate on workers' wages, lives
BY JAKE BATSELL
The Seattle Times
BALGUE, Nicaragua - (KRT) - Coffee has helped provide water for Jose Felix Centeno Castillo's home, school for his nine children and a better life for his fellow farmers.
Castillo and other members of his farming cooperative receive among the highest prices in the coffee industry - $1.61 a pound - for the beans they grow under towering trees on the volcano slopes of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua.
But do not look for a Fair Trade Certified label on the packages that carry Castillo's coffee. That coveted stamp of approval costs money - farmers and roasters pay for the label - and would shave hundreds of dollars from his co-op's annual earnings.
The co-op's coffee, sold in the United States by a Bainbridge Island, Wash., nonprofit, is marketed as "fair-traded." It is a semantic difference that highlights a growing debate within the specialty-coffee industry about workers' wages and their quality of life.
Booming U.S. demand for Fair Trade coffee has triggered an industrywide tiff about what exactly "fair" means when it comes to paying farmers.
Oakland, Calif.-based TransFair USA labels Fair Trade coffee after certifying it was grown by small-scale farm co-ops that were paid a fair price - at least $1.26 a pound - for their beans.
Other growers and sellers are finding ways to call attention to their sustainably grown coffees, which they say also provide a decent living for farmers. Fair Trade label or not, they say, their coffee is sustainably grown, or farmed in a way that respects the environment and is fair to workers.
"To say that everything else that we're doing is not good, and what they're doing is good - it's been a big struggle for us," said Pete Rogers, green-coffee buyer for JBR Gourmet Foods in San Leandro, Calif.
JBR often pays more than Fair Trade prices for its coffee, Rogers said, and it sponsors dozens of community-development programs in countries such as Mexico and Zambia.
"What they (TransFair USA) have done is a great job of selling the public on the idea," said Seattle's Best Coffee founder Jim Stewart, who sold his stake in Seattle's Best but still owns an organic coffee farm in Costa Rica. "It's kind of an easy way out. You see that stamp and you say, `Ha.'"
---
Volatile swings in the global coffee supply have slashed wages for thousands of farmers and workers in recent years.
Unroasted coffee beans that sold for nearly $2 a pound wholesale in 1997 dipped to under 50 cents a pound in 2002 - a price below many farmers' production costs, which generally average 60 cents to 90 cents a pound in Central America. Prices now hover between 70 and 80 cents a pound.
Fair Trade Certified coffee spares farmers from the ups and downs of commodities markets by establishing a minimum price for their product - currently $1.26 a pound for arabica beans, the type preferred by specialty roasters. Independent monitors confirm farms receive the Fair Trade price.
Since it began certifying coffee in 1998, TransFair USA has seen demand rise sharply for packages bearing its black-and-white Fair Trade label. Last year, the organization certified 18.7 million pounds of coffee, nearly doubling its 2002 total.
Dunkin' Donuts recently introduced a line of Fair Trade espresso drinks, and even canned-coffee giant Procter & Gamble, maker of Folgers, has developed a Fair Trade blend under its Millstone label.
Other retailers have taken the concept much further - a Fair Trade-only coffee company called Equal Exchange has become increasingly popular with church groups around the country, and Caffe Ladro, a seven-store independent chain in Seattle, serves "triple-certified" coffee that is Fair Trade, organic and shade-grown. Retail prices vary, but Fair Trade, organic and shade-grown coffees are generally a bit more expensive than standard specialty coffees - a few cents more for espresso drinks and about $1 more for a 1-pound bag.
"The vast majority of consumers and citizens in this country sympathize with the underdog," said TransFair USA Chief Executive Officer Paul Rice. "If presented with a choice between coffee that helps people and coffee that doesn't, it's natural they would want to choose coffee that helps people."
Buying coffee stamped with the Fair Trade label "is a relatively effortless way for people to make a difference in the world," TransFair USA Chief Executive Officer Paul Rice said.
TransFair's model requires Fair Trade farms to be part of a democratically run co-op, a rule that has riled owners of larger farms and estates who complain they are shut out from the Fair Trade system even though they treat their workers well and pay them fairly.
Meanwhile, several smaller U.S. roasters who had sold 100 percent Fair Trade coffee broke their alliance with TransFair earlier this year, contending TransFair has become too cozy with coffee corporations such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, whose Fair Trade offerings amount to a small fraction of their total coffee supply.
Even some who are eligible for Fair Trade status say they do not see why they should pay TransFair's certification fee, which until recently had been 10 cents a pound, to simply rubber-stamp what they already know to be fair and ethical business practices.
That is the stance of the Bainbridge-Ometepe Sister Island Association, which pays $1.61 a pound for the coffee grown by Castillo's co-op on Ometepe Island and sells it to Seattle-area retailers. All the coffee's profits pay for community-improvement projects on the Nicaraguan island.
"Ten cents a pound, when we do 14,000 pounds a year, is a lot of money that can go back to Ometepe," said Lee Robinson, the association's treasurer.
Rice says TransFair has reduced its certification fee schedule to as low as 5 cents a pound. He says he understands why a sister-island association based on direct personal interaction would find it unnecessary to pay for third-party certification.
But on a larger scale, he said, the Fair Trade label provides skeptical consumers with verification that companies are paying fair prices to growers.
"It doesn't mean we are the only way, but right now we are the only company that provides independent verification," Rice said.
---
A number of U.S. roasters and retailers say TransFair's model is one of many ways to protect farmers and the environment through sustainable growing methods - that is, techniques that benefit workers and the environment.
Starbucks, which says Fair Trade coffee accounts for about 1 percent of the coffee it buys, started an incentive system three years ago that paid premiums of up to 10 cents a pound to growers who met certain social and environmental criteria, such as paying at least minimum wage and treating and recycling the water used to wash beans. Starbucks says it paid an average of $1.20 a pound for the unroasted coffee it bought last year.
JBR Gourmet Foods, whose signature product is its 3-pound bags of San Francisco Bay French Roast sold at Costco stores, says it pays at least $1.38 a pound at 18 coffee farms around the world. It also pays for community projects, which have included schools, medical clinics and a baseball field.
While his company makes three Fair Trade blends under its Organic Coffee Co. brand, Rogers said the Fair Trade logo can leave consumers with a misguided perception that any other coffee is not sustainably grown.
"We really believe we're making more of a direct impact with what we do," Rogers said.
Jim Stewart, who founded Seattle's Best Coffee before selling his stake but still owns an organic coffee farm in Costa Rica, said TransFair's set prices can reduce the incentive for farmers and workers to produce a high-quality crop.
Instead, Stewart said he prefers to encourage workers to pick ripe beans by offering perks based on a full season's harvest. During Stewart's tenure at Seattle's Best, the company earmarked profits from each year's crop for projects such as schools and water pumps. He and his wife, farm owner Luz Marina Trujillo, still deliver new school uniforms each year to the families who work at their farms in Costa Rica.
The incentive-based approach, Stewart said, tells workers that "because you've done such a good job, your coffee has more international value, and here's some of that value for you to use in your community."
"It's not just more money - `Here it is, good luck,'" Stewart said. "It's a reward. It's not a gift. It's not a donation. It's not charity."
Rice said while community projects sponsored by individual coffee companies are commendable and well-intentioned, they also can be seen as a form of paternalism.
"We just believe there's a more sustainable model that empowers farmers to help themselves," Rice said.
Global demand for Fair Trade coffee is still relatively low - Fair Trade coffee accounts for perhaps 5 percent of specialty-coffee sales in the U.S. - but that demand is growing. Rice said Fair Trade farmers have plenty of incentive to strive for top quality. If they do not pay attention to quality, he said, their coffee will not sell.
---
With demand rising for Fair Trade and other eco- and worker-friendly coffees, caffeinated consumers are wading through what can be a confusing array of labels. Shoppers perusing the 12-ounce bags at their favorite espresso bar or grocery store often must choose between organic or shade-grown, or Fair Trade versus fair-traded.
A recent stroll down a Safeway aisle found coffees bearing three organic logos, the Fair Trade symbol and descriptions including shade-grown and "100% mountain farmed."
Rogers suggests the U.S. government take up the issue of Fair Trade coffee, similar to how the U.S. Agriculture Department recently introduced a "USDA Organic" logo.
"There's all these myriads of certifications out there that confuse the consumer," Rogers said. "If the government were willing to get involved with Fair Trade, I think that would be a very positive step for the consumer."
---
The Carlos Diaz Cajina Cooperative on Ometepe Island is not part of the Fair Trade program. But with the co-op's coffee selling for $1.61 a pound, its farmers say they feel fairly compensated. During the Sandinista era in the 1980s, they received less than 20 cents a pound.
"We have a better life," Castillo, 66, said through an interpreter. "Before, selling coffee at that price, I didn't have the money to survive. I didn't have money for the food I needed, for clothes."
Coffee profits have brought a water system to his village and helped him pay school fees for his six sons and three daughters, he said.
"Maybe it's not that our houses are nicer and we live like rich people, but now I can do things like send my kids to school," Castillo said. "Now, I'm not just subsisting. I can live more comfortably."
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View entire thread: Looking for start-up partner
Posted by jlyon10 on 2008-02-14 10:14:51 Post Subject: coffee business
Hope you do well. I have been trying to break into the coffee business for about a year. I love roasting my own coffee at home and thought that this is a new trend that will be catching on so I started selling green beans on my website. I have sold some but not what I expected. I am still learning the coffee business and hope some day to travel to countries on buying trips from the coffee farms. I would also like to roast coffee some day but there is a lot to learn about that.
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Posted by jlyon10 on 2008-02-14 10:14:51 Post Subject: coffee business
Hope you do well. I have been trying to break into the coffee business for about a year. I love roasting my own coffee at home and thought that this is a new trend that will be catching on so I started selling green beans on my website. I have sold some but not what I expected. I am still learning the coffee business and hope some day to travel to countries on buying trips from the coffee farms. I would also like to roast coffee some day but there is a lot to learn about that.
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View entire thread: Rising bean prices
Posted by Rowley on 2005-03-19 04:08:11 Post Subject: Rising bean prices
The last few year's coffee crops have helped everyone enjoy some cheap coffee. From roasters buying green beans to those at home buying a pound of robusta, everyone enjoyed the benefits from a high crop yeild and low wholesale prices. This year the coffee farms have less beans to put on the market and this is causing prices of coffee internationally to raise across the board.
I am interested to hear how everyone here who works in the coffee business is currently planning to deal with the sharp increase of coffee bean prices this year.
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Posted by Rowley on 2005-03-19 04:08:11 Post Subject: Rising bean prices
The last few year's coffee crops have helped everyone enjoy some cheap coffee. From roasters buying green beans to those at home buying a pound of robusta, everyone enjoyed the benefits from a high crop yeild and low wholesale prices. This year the coffee farms have less beans to put on the market and this is causing prices of coffee internationally to raise across the board.
I am interested to hear how everyone here who works in the coffee business is currently planning to deal with the sharp increase of coffee bean prices this year.
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View entire thread: 100% Pure Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee in Whole Bean ? ? ?
Posted by Jackson on 2006-12-17 21:35:43 Post Subject:
Wow Cafeblue, you know Jamaican coffee farms! In my generalization of comparing Jamaican coffee, I wanted to compare apples with apples. Coffee beans grown at the same altitude and coffees of the same grade.
Which coffee farm is your favorite? Can I buy a pound or two of green, to roast at home?
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Posted by Jackson on 2006-12-17 21:35:43 Post Subject:
Wow Cafeblue, you know Jamaican coffee farms! In my generalization of comparing Jamaican coffee, I wanted to compare apples with apples. Coffee beans grown at the same altitude and coffees of the same grade.
Which coffee farm is your favorite? Can I buy a pound or two of green, to roast at home?
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View entire thread: Shade-Grown coffee
Posted by buck100 on 2006-04-24 05:35:10 Post Subject:
Hello Alison,
Shade grown is very difficult and unless you are buying direct from the farm or a supplier that works with specific shade grown coffee farms. You can never be sure what you are getting.
I agree with what CAFECOSA said and coincidentally, I also buy shade grown coffee from San Marcos in the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica. You may want to look at this shade grown coffee article that I wrote an article for more information.
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Posted by buck100 on 2006-04-24 05:35:10 Post Subject:
Hello Alison,
Shade grown is very difficult and unless you are buying direct from the farm or a supplier that works with specific shade grown coffee farms. You can never be sure what you are getting.
I agree with what CAFECOSA said and coincidentally, I also buy shade grown coffee from San Marcos in the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica. You may want to look at this shade grown coffee article that I wrote an article for more information.
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View entire thread: Leaky Bucket Syndrome
Posted by davidsbiscotti on 2008-03-28 07:24:44 Post Subject: Leaky Bucket Syndrome
I'm curious -
Is a forum an information only based site, like Wikipedia or Dictionary.com?
Is it structured so that people can pop in to get their question answered and pop out, never to be seen again?
Or is it a site that can hold it's own, up against member sharing sites like MySpace and YouTube?
I beg to differ. A forum is a place where people of a general or specific interest can enter, not only text book answers to questions, but also their own daily experiences. We enjoy hearing about a member's roasting challenges or a member's experiences with their customers. Remember what I said about giving a man a fish? Don't give it, teach it. It's a fact that information is better retained through interacting with others. Imagine the chaos of a world where cut and paste info is the only means of communication.
It's a pity to see so many potentially contributing members only post once or twice then not return. Let's not allow this forum to suffer from what is known in business as the leaky bucket syndrome.
I look forward to reading more about your coffee shops, roasting techniques, travels to coffee farms, your favorite coffee mug, espresso blends, customers, bosses, etc.
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Posted by davidsbiscotti on 2008-03-28 07:24:44 Post Subject: Leaky Bucket Syndrome
I'm curious -
Is a forum an information only based site, like Wikipedia or Dictionary.com?
Is it structured so that people can pop in to get their question answered and pop out, never to be seen again?
Or is it a site that can hold it's own, up against member sharing sites like MySpace and YouTube?
I beg to differ. A forum is a place where people of a general or specific interest can enter, not only text book answers to questions, but also their own daily experiences. We enjoy hearing about a member's roasting challenges or a member's experiences with their customers. Remember what I said about giving a man a fish? Don't give it, teach it. It's a fact that information is better retained through interacting with others. Imagine the chaos of a world where cut and paste info is the only means of communication.
It's a pity to see so many potentially contributing members only post once or twice then not return. Let's not allow this forum to suffer from what is known in business as the leaky bucket syndrome.
I look forward to reading more about your coffee shops, roasting techniques, travels to coffee farms, your favorite coffee mug, espresso blends, customers, bosses, etc.
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View entire thread: fairtrade
Posted by jpscoffee on 2007-10-14 19:03:16 Post Subject:
what about other several million people who are consumers of non fair-trade coffee on daily basis and are possibly not even aware of that fact. Do you even know what fair trade coffee is? Have you any facts beyond the hype you are repeating?
How is possible to rise awareness around this issueWhat issue are you talking about?
Coffee industry is one of the most profitable industriesHow do you know this? At what level is it the most profitable? Are you a store owner? Are you a roaster? Are you a coffee broker?
Can medias such asTV, film or use of any other media help in increasing the consciousness about this problem??? What problem?
You seem to want to "save the world", but I think you need to do some research and get facts before you go forth. Read the press release below to shine a different light on "fair trade".
PRESS RELEASE
Fairtrade Coffee Does Little to Help Coffee Farmers in Developing Countries
Contact: Lura Forcum, Mercatus Center, (703) 993-4960 or lforcum@gmu.edu
Study available at www.mercatus.org/fairtradecoffee
Arlington, VA, June 21, 2007Buying Fairtrade coffee may ease your conscience and line the pockets of coffee retailers, but it does little to improve the lives of coffee farmers and laborers in developing countries. According to a study by Colleen Berndt, published by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, coffee marketed as “Fairtrade” fails to provide financial benefit to farmers, while imposing significant costs. In her report, “Is Fairtrade in Coffee Production Fair and Useful: Evidence from Costa Rica and Guatemala and Implications for Policy”, Berndt - who is a lecturer in economics at San Jose State University argues that the program serves as little more than a hedge for coffee farmers.
What is the benefit of being a Fairtrade coffee farmer?
About three cents. In exchange for obtaining certification from the Fairtrade Labeling Organization’s (FLO), coffee farmers in developing countries can sell their coffee at a price that is about US$0.03 higher than the regular coffee market. However, coffee farmers only reap this benefit for about 20% of their coffee crop because that’s all that Fairtrade buyers currently purchase. The rest is sold on the unregulated market at a lower price.
While this isn’t helping coffee farmers much, it’s helping the very poorest participants of the coffee trade even less. Owners of coffee farms have some capital, but the migrant workers who provide most of the labor are far more impoverished. FLO requires that these workers be paid a minimum wage, but actual wages aren’t monitored so migrant workers probably aren’t seeing their fair share.
What are the costs of being a Fairtrade coffee farmer?
In order to sell to Fairtrade buyers, coffee farmers must organize themselves into cooperatives. The members must then follow FLO’s guidelines and pay the organization to monitor their compliance. In addition, the farmers, many of whom are barely literate, are required to keep detailed records about the co-op’s decision-making and distribution of profits in order to maintain certification.
There are other, less direct costs as well. Although FLO says that its goal is to help farmers become “financially secure and self sufficient,” its own requirements work against that goal. For example, co-op farmers are prevented from owning more than 12 acres of land and employing any full-time employees. While this may keep large coffee plantations from profiting from the price floor, it also discourages smaller coffee farmers from expanding their businesses.
How is Fairtrade acting as a hedge?
In developed financial markets, there are various tools to distribute risk. They range from simple crop insurance to more complex forms of risk buying and selling in futures and commodities markets. Coffee farmers lack access to these types of tools, which is what makes a Fairtrade co-op appealing. Fairtrade enables farmers to benefit from the price floor when the market is down, and sell to the unregulated market when prices are higher.
And since the co-op isn’t required to sell any amount of coffee to Fairtrade buyers, the farmers are inclined to sell their poor-quality beans where there is a price floor, and their higher-quality beans on the unregulated market. That’s something to think about the next time you order a venti-Fairtrade-mocha-ccino-frappe from your favorite coffeehouse.
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is a research, education, and outreach organization that works with scholars, policy experts, and government officials to connect academic learning and real world practice. The mission of Mercatus is to promote sound interdisciplinary research and application in the humane sciences that integrates theory and practice to produce solutions that sustainably advance a free, prosperous, and civil society.
This reminds me of how Al Gore looks so good on paper, but look at his actions according to this:
Two houses... different stories
An Inconvenient Truth: A Tale of Two Houses
House #1
A 20 room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house, all heated by gas. In one month this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern "snow belt" area. It's in the South.
House #2
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a high prairie in the American Southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville , Tennessee ; it is the abode of
the "environmentalist," Al Gore.
HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford , Texas ; it is the residence the of the President of the United States , George W. Bush.
An "inconvenient truth."
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Posted by jpscoffee on 2007-10-14 19:03:16 Post Subject:
what about other several million people who are consumers of non fair-trade coffee on daily basis and are possibly not even aware of that fact. Do you even know what fair trade coffee is? Have you any facts beyond the hype you are repeating?
How is possible to rise awareness around this issueWhat issue are you talking about?
Coffee industry is one of the most profitable industriesHow do you know this? At what level is it the most profitable? Are you a store owner? Are you a roaster? Are you a coffee broker?
Can medias such asTV, film or use of any other media help in increasing the consciousness about this problem??? What problem?
You seem to want to "save the world", but I think you need to do some research and get facts before you go forth. Read the press release below to shine a different light on "fair trade".
PRESS RELEASE
Fairtrade Coffee Does Little to Help Coffee Farmers in Developing Countries
Contact: Lura Forcum, Mercatus Center, (703) 993-4960 or lforcum@gmu.edu
Study available at www.mercatus.org/fairtradecoffee
Arlington, VA, June 21, 2007Buying Fairtrade coffee may ease your conscience and line the pockets of coffee retailers, but it does little to improve the lives of coffee farmers and laborers in developing countries. According to a study by Colleen Berndt, published by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, coffee marketed as “Fairtrade” fails to provide financial benefit to farmers, while imposing significant costs. In her report, “Is Fairtrade in Coffee Production Fair and Useful: Evidence from Costa Rica and Guatemala and Implications for Policy”, Berndt - who is a lecturer in economics at San Jose State University argues that the program serves as little more than a hedge for coffee farmers.
What is the benefit of being a Fairtrade coffee farmer?
About three cents. In exchange for obtaining certification from the Fairtrade Labeling Organization’s (FLO), coffee farmers in developing countries can sell their coffee at a price that is about US$0.03 higher than the regular coffee market. However, coffee farmers only reap this benefit for about 20% of their coffee crop because that’s all that Fairtrade buyers currently purchase. The rest is sold on the unregulated market at a lower price.
While this isn’t helping coffee farmers much, it’s helping the very poorest participants of the coffee trade even less. Owners of coffee farms have some capital, but the migrant workers who provide most of the labor are far more impoverished. FLO requires that these workers be paid a minimum wage, but actual wages aren’t monitored so migrant workers probably aren’t seeing their fair share.
What are the costs of being a Fairtrade coffee farmer?
In order to sell to Fairtrade buyers, coffee farmers must organize themselves into cooperatives. The members must then follow FLO’s guidelines and pay the organization to monitor their compliance. In addition, the farmers, many of whom are barely literate, are required to keep detailed records about the co-op’s decision-making and distribution of profits in order to maintain certification.
There are other, less direct costs as well. Although FLO says that its goal is to help farmers become “financially secure and self sufficient,” its own requirements work against that goal. For example, co-op farmers are prevented from owning more than 12 acres of land and employing any full-time employees. While this may keep large coffee plantations from profiting from the price floor, it also discourages smaller coffee farmers from expanding their businesses.
How is Fairtrade acting as a hedge?
In developed financial markets, there are various tools to distribute risk. They range from simple crop insurance to more complex forms of risk buying and selling in futures and commodities markets. Coffee farmers lack access to these types of tools, which is what makes a Fairtrade co-op appealing. Fairtrade enables farmers to benefit from the price floor when the market is down, and sell to the unregulated market when prices are higher.
And since the co-op isn’t required to sell any amount of coffee to Fairtrade buyers, the farmers are inclined to sell their poor-quality beans where there is a price floor, and their higher-quality beans on the unregulated market. That’s something to think about the next time you order a venti-Fairtrade-mocha-ccino-frappe from your favorite coffeehouse.
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is a research, education, and outreach organization that works with scholars, policy experts, and government officials to connect academic learning and real world practice. The mission of Mercatus is to promote sound interdisciplinary research and application in the humane sciences that integrates theory and practice to produce solutions that sustainably advance a free, prosperous, and civil society.
This reminds me of how Al Gore looks so good on paper, but look at his actions according to this:
Two houses... different stories
An Inconvenient Truth: A Tale of Two Houses
House #1
A 20 room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house, all heated by gas. In one month this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern "snow belt" area. It's in the South.
House #2
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a high prairie in the American Southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville , Tennessee ; it is the abode of
the "environmentalist," Al Gore.
HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford , Texas ; it is the residence the of the President of the United States , George W. Bush.
An "inconvenient truth."
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View entire thread: Coffee doesn't taste like coffee anymore.
Posted by alsterling on 2006-09-27 21:56:38 Post Subject: coffee and USAF 60's........
DML...... coincidently, I read your post and just kept reading, right up until you wrote that you were in the USAF, 60's version! I was combat photo '66 to '69. My website is http://www.601st.com
It's amazing how our olfactory sense can bring back incredibly strong memories. While I can't say that I've ever lost the memory of coffee, it really didn't gain importance until I married a Brasilian. For the last 20+ years I've traveled back to Brasil, spending time on our family cattle ranches, and traveling to friends coffee farms. My "learned" appreciation for the smell of fresh coffee in the morning is stronger now for Brasilian Cafe', a stronger, but smooth coffee that we drink from a small cup, or demitasse. I'd be glad to share that experience and point you to some suppliers.
I could recommend that you invest in a small coffee roaster. With that, you'll learn to appreciate the smell of green beans, all the way to fresh roast....... which actually doesn't have a developed fragrance or aroma until it outgasses; usually up to four days. But add a small grinder, and you'll be in control of generating that aroma you miss. Although it may have to be rediscovered by trial and error.
Regardless, I'm curious to know where you served, etc. My direct email is: alsterling@earthlink.net
Best, Al
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Posted by alsterling on 2006-09-27 21:56:38 Post Subject: coffee and USAF 60's........
DML...... coincidently, I read your post and just kept reading, right up until you wrote that you were in the USAF, 60's version! I was combat photo '66 to '69. My website is http://www.601st.com
It's amazing how our olfactory sense can bring back incredibly strong memories. While I can't say that I've ever lost the memory of coffee, it really didn't gain importance until I married a Brasilian. For the last 20+ years I've traveled back to Brasil, spending time on our family cattle ranches, and traveling to friends coffee farms. My "learned" appreciation for the smell of fresh coffee in the morning is stronger now for Brasilian Cafe', a stronger, but smooth coffee that we drink from a small cup, or demitasse. I'd be glad to share that experience and point you to some suppliers.
I could recommend that you invest in a small coffee roaster. With that, you'll learn to appreciate the smell of green beans, all the way to fresh roast....... which actually doesn't have a developed fragrance or aroma until it outgasses; usually up to four days. But add a small grinder, and you'll be in control of generating that aroma you miss. Although it may have to be rediscovered by trial and error.
Regardless, I'm curious to know where you served, etc. My direct email is: alsterling@earthlink.net
Best, Al
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View entire thread: I found a great new coffee company online!!!
Posted by tzulin on 2004-04-12 15:11:26 Post Subject: I found a great new coffee company online!!!
I have found an exciting and new company out of California that roasts your orders individually and ships them quickly for freshness! The coffee is all 100% fair trade (no fair trade logo because the logo only means at least 2% fair traded). This premium product is available single bean, shade grown, etc, and it all comes from coffee farms around the world that have a fair trade agreement with the company, called CoffeeFair. I have only tried their 5/4 blend, but that alone is enough for me to be a customer for life. There is no fee, only the coffee itself and shipping, plus you get the opportunity to sell the coffee online and spread the word like I'm doing (membership is available either free or upgraded). The website has more details. You won't regret having this wonderful coffee at home to prepare each morning (and afternoon...and night...). Here is the link, it's risk free...go ahead and browse their products! Lots of tea, too!
http://www.coffeefair.com/
tzulin, vermont
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Posted by tzulin on 2004-04-12 15:11:26 Post Subject: I found a great new coffee company online!!!
I have found an exciting and new company out of California that roasts your orders individually and ships them quickly for freshness! The coffee is all 100% fair trade (no fair trade logo because the logo only means at least 2% fair traded). This premium product is available single bean, shade grown, etc, and it all comes from coffee farms around the world that have a fair trade agreement with the company, called CoffeeFair. I have only tried their 5/4 blend, but that alone is enough for me to be a customer for life. There is no fee, only the coffee itself and shipping, plus you get the opportunity to sell the coffee online and spread the word like I'm doing (membership is available either free or upgraded). The website has more details. You won't regret having this wonderful coffee at home to prepare each morning (and afternoon...and night...). Here is the link, it's risk free...go ahead and browse their products! Lots of tea, too!
http://www.coffeefair.com/
tzulin, vermont
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