In a society where consumers are increasingly aware of trade practices, direct trade has become more and more popular. Consumers are demanding fairness and quality from the businesses they support. A few of the main goals of direct trade are improving traceability, product transparency, and also encouraging businesses with shared values to work together. All of these are great goals and play a role in our mission to “Do Good Farm to Cup”... but in the end, our favorite aspect of engaging in direct trade is something less measurable.
A necessary part of direct trade is growing personal relationships between the producer and consumer. For us this means getting to know those who grow, pick, and process the coffee we roast and brew. The opportunity to build these relationships and learn from these hardworking friends is what makes direct trade so valuable to us. Through these relationships we have been able to learn first hand how the different ways farmers care for their plants with unique fermentation processes, and how the many variables in the coffee industry can affect each farm. We are always learning; and this learning curve would be much steeper without the relationships that we continue to build through direct interaction with those producing the coffee we buy.
We started a business with some of our best friends which makes it easy to maintain an enjoyable work environment. When we purchase coffee directly we are doing the same thing. Working with friends. This makes selling coffee enjoyable because we know their story, we know the effort they’ve put forth to create this coffee, and we are eager to share this with our customers. We respect all the hard work our friends have done cultivating these coffees, and feel a responsibility to continue attention to detail when we roast and brew the coffee they have farmed and processed.
An additional benefit to working closely with those who grow the coffee we purchase, is that they are eager to hear feedback. They strive to create coffees that YOU want to drink. Our goal is to support friends who grow great coffee and to serve the most enjoyable cup possible. We have been blessed with the opportunity to grow these relationships from Farm to Cup, and this is why we trade directly whenever possible!
