Have you bought Coffee with the Fair Trade coffee label and wondered what it meant? If you’re a serious coffee lover, you already know how important it is to buy certified coffee.
However, if you’re a beginner and not sure how it works, this guide lets you in on what it is and fair Trade coffee brands to look out for.
- Fragrant medium roast Peruvian coffee with a smooth finish
- Three 12-ounce bags of ground coffee
- 100% Arabica coffee grown in Peru
- Fair Trade certified, USDA Organic coffee
- Roasted and packed in the U.S.A.
- FLAVOR PROFILE: This is coffee you can sip all day. Pleasing, soft caramel-like mouth feel balanced by elegant citrus acidity and a sweet, clean finish
- ORGANIC: 100% Organic Shade-Grown Arabica Coffee
- FAIR TRADE & SINGLE ORIGIN: Cenfrocafe's investments in grower education and processing infrastructure (made possible by the above fair trade price premium we pay for this gem) have resulted in year after year improvements in quality and consistency
- CRAFT ROASTED in our vintage 90 kilo German-built Probat drum roaster retrofitted with modern fuel-efficient ribbon burners, delivering perfectly roasted coffee every time
- CARBON NEGATIVE: Tiny Footprint Coffee is the world’s first carbon negative coffee. For every pound that’s sold, we donate a portion of the proceeds to fund reforestation in Ecuador’s Mindo Cloud Forest. Over time, these trees will remove 54 lbs. of CO2 from the atmosphere as well as provide habitat for hundreds of native plant and animal species
- Medium & Vienna Roast Blend
- Ground Coffee.Does Not Contain Any of the 8 Major Allergens
- Fairly Traded
- USDA Certified Organic
- Kosher Pareve certified by the Orthodox Union
Last update on 2022-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fair Trade is beneficial for both consumers and coffee farmers. So, is it necessary for you to buy Fair Trade coffee? Let’s find out more!
What Is Fair Trade Coffee?
Do you find yourself questioning what Fair Trade coffee is? We have the answer for you. So, here we go!
Fair Trade coffee should meet the standards set by the coffee organizations. It ensures coffee farmers and workers have better wages and that consumers get high-quality coffee.
Coffee is one of the most imported products in the world. In 2020, the United States imported coffee that was worth approximately 5.68 billion US dollars.
However, coffee farmers are paid low wages, especially in developing countries. That leads to poverty and poor working conditions.
Fair Trade seeks to alleviate poverty by paying farmers better prices for their coffee and workers better wages. It sets a minimum price for farmers who sell coffee through Fair Trade.
In addition to this, there’s the FairTrade premium. Coffee farmers agree on what to do with the funds, like creating factories, schools, and other development projects within the community.
So, when you buy Fair Trade coffee, you’re contributing to better wages for coffee farmers and workers. Fair Trade products meet the sustainable economic, social, and environmental standards.
Benefits Of Fair Trade
Within the global Fairtrade system, there are approximately 800,000 coffee farmers. As consumers continue to buy Fair Trade coffee, this has led to 5 times increased sales than conventional coffee.
So that means coffee farmers and workers have better wages. Besides this, other Fair Trade benefits are:
- It sets a minimum Fair trade coffee price for farmers selling coffee through Fair Trade.
- Farmers can decide on what to do with the Fairtrade premium. For instance, they can buy better farming equipment or build schools and hospitals.
- Coffee workers and farmers are consulted when setting new policies and standards for FairTrade.
- Coffee farmers are paid a better price for their coffee.
Fair Trade Coffee Brands
Besides coffee, other products from Fair Trade are sugar, cocoa, bananas, herbs, flowers, and rice. Since our guide is about Fair Trade coffee, we can identify some of the coffee brands.
Tiny Footprint Coffee
Last update on 2022-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
From Tiny Footprint Coffee, you can pick coffee in ground form or whole bean coffee. The ground coffee is caffeinated and roasted to a medium level.
The Arabica coffee is 100% organic and shade-grown. For the processing method, the ground coffee is fully-washed and later sun-dried. It is certified by FairTrade and USDA Organic.
The flavor profile to expect is a soft caramel-like mouth feel balanced by elegant citrus acidity and a sweet, clean finish.
Tiny Footprint Coffee is carbon negative. Part of the funds from the coffee sale is donated towards reforestation. The trees help drive out 54lbs of CO2 coffee from the atmosphere and provide a natural habitat for animals and plants.
Kicking Horse Coffee – 454 Horse Power
Last update on 2022-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Roasted in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, The Kicking Horse coffee has a heavy body and earthy taste note with a black licorice finish.
The 454 Horse Power has a dark roast and is 100% organic. It is caffeinated and certified by Fair Trade, Kosher, and USDA Organic.
The coffee beans are from South America, Central America, and Indonesia. Coffee lovers can select this coffee in ground or whole bean coffee.
From Kicking Horse Coffee, you can select decaf or caffeinated coffee from the multiple flavours.
Ethical Bean Whole Coffee Beans
Last update on 2022-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Fair Trade coffee beans are 100% Arabica and certified by Fair Trade and USDA Organic. The coffee beans are packed in a resealable bag with a zip lock to maintain the freshness of the coffee beans.
Ethical coffee beans have a medium roast and elegant acidity. Fair Trade coffee ensures that coffee farmers receive a fair wage for coffee production.
Wicked Joe Organic Coffee
Last update on 2022-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The process of decaffeination for the Wicked Joe coffee is the Swiss water method. The ground coffee has a dark roast and is non-GMO verified.
It is certified by USDA Organic. The Fair Trade ground coffee is smoky and smooth with an unexpected hint of sweetness.
Cafe Altura Organic Coffee
Last update on 2022-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Cafe Altura ground coffee is caffeinated, low acid, and roasted to a medium level. The organic coffee is rain-washed, sun-dried, and fire-roasted.
Cafe Altura packages the ground coffee in a reusable and recyclable container. The Arabica coffee is certified by USDA Organic and Fair Trade.
Death Wish Coffee Beans
Last update on 2022-07-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fair Trade coffee beans from Death Wish deliver a bold cup of coffee for your morning. You can select the caffeinated coffee in ground form or coffee beans.
Death Wish sources Robusta and Arabica coffee. It’s referred to as the world’s strongest coffee.
The coffee beans have a dark roast level and are certified by Fair Trade and USDA Organic. The brand guarantees coffee lovers a refund for those who do not like the coffee beans.
Seattle’s Best Coffee
Last update on 2022-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The ground coffee from Seattle’s Best coffee is 100% Arabica from Latin America. It has a roasty and bold flavor.
To make a cold brew, use cold filtered water and the ground coffee, then place it in a refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Seattle’s Best coffee is Fair Trade organic and certified by USDA Organic.
How Does Fair Trade Coffee Work
If you’re a coffee farmer looking for fair prices, you should consider selling coffee through Fair Trade. It does not support coffee only but also other products like bananas, flowers, and cocoa. Here’s how it works:
Control Fair Trade coffee price
In most developing countries, coffee farmers sell coffee at low prices. As a result, the farmers end up in poverty and poor living conditions. Fair Trade helps to solve this problem by setting a minimum price.
Fair Trade Premium
In addition to the minimum price set by Fair Trade, coffee farmers also have access to Fair Trade premium. It’s extra money paid to coffee farmers to invest in projects like building schools and hospitals.
Promote better working conditions
Fair Trade includes coffee producers during decision-making. It helps to minimize coffee workers’ exploitation and child labor. For instance, coffee farmers access advance credit before the coffee sale.
Sustainable coffee farming
Sustainable farming does not use chemicals during planting or pest control. It helps minimize the effects of the chemical on the environment and coffee farmers’ health.
When buying coffee, you will notice that the packaging bag has USDA Organic and Fair Trade labels. However, that does not mean Fair Trade coffee has to be organic, but often, the two go hand-in-hand.
Better wages
Coffee farmers benefit from the minimum price for coffee sold through Fair Trade. With the Fair Trade premium, farmers can agree on a project that will help improve their living conditions and grow their society.
Why Should You Consider Buying Fair Trade Coffee
Is quality, price, and taste the factors you consider when buying coffee? When you buy Fair trade coffee, you’re contributing to fair wages for coffee farmers and workers. The goal is to ensure farmers receive better prices and the workers have better wages to improve their living conditions.
Another reason is that coffee lovers have better quality coffee. Fair Trade uses sustainable farming with minimal use of pesticides and fertilizers.
Fair Trade premium helps coffee farmers to grow their society by working on development projects like building schools and hospitals.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Fair Trade coffee price high?
The slightly higher cost is to pay coffee farmers better wages and Fair Trade premium.
2. What is the goal of Fair Trade coffee?
Fair Trade ensures coffee farmers in developing countries receive better working conditions and fair prices. There’s a set minimum price for coffee sold through Fair Trade. With the Fair Trade premium, coffee farmers can work on other projects.
3. How is fair trade coffee made?
For coffee to be Fair Trade certified, coffee farmers should meet the economic, environmental, and social criteria.
Fair Trade does not recommend using genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and chemicals. Coffee farmers should use minimal pesticides and agrochemicals.
Fair Trade coffee is not organic certified. The economic criteria include a Fair Trade minimum price in case of a price drop. In addition, the Fair Trade premium helps farmers invest in development projects.
4. What is the difference between Fair Trade premium and Fair Trade minimum price?
Fair Trade premium is money paid to farmers on top of the coffee selling price. Coffee farmers come together and decide on the development projects to do with the money. On the other hand, the minimum price is the least amount of money coffee farmers are paid for selling coffee through Fair Trade.
Final Thoughts
Fair Trade products are coffee, rice, dried fruits and nuts, herbs, tea, bananas, cotton, etc. For a coffee lover, buying Fair Trade coffee contributes to better wages and working conditions for coffee farmers.
You can buy coffee in a supermarket or coffee shop. The easiest way to identify this coffee is by checking the Fair Trade label on the packaging bag.
Fair Trade coffee farmers enjoy a minimum price, Fairtrade premium, and better working conditions. Products should meet the set requirements to be Fair Trade certified.
As you shop for coffee, consider buying Fair Trade coffee. It has a higher price as it contributes to better wages for coffee farmers.
