Ethical sourcing isn’t just a marketing term — it’s a commitment to the people and places that make great coffee possible. When you choose an ethically sourced coffee, you’re supporting fair wages, sustainable farming practices, and communities that depend on coffee for their livelihoods. Here are five exceptional coffees that prove doing right by the world tastes incredible.
We cupped over a hundred coffees this season to build our current menu. These five stood out not only for their flavor — but for the stories behind them. Each comes from a farm or cooperative we know personally, where traceability and transparency are as important as cup quality…
- Ethiopia Yirgacheffe — Kochere Cooperative
- Colombia Huila — Finca La Palma
- Guatemala Huehuetenango — Las Brisas Farm
- Kenya AB — Gakuyuini Factory
- Peru Cajamarca — CENFROCAFE Cooperative
- And our house blend — ethically sourced all year long 🙂
What Makes Sourcing Ethical?
Ethical sourcing covers a broad spectrum: paying above market price for quality lots, supporting cooperatives owned by small farmers, avoiding child labor, investing in environmental practices that protect soil and water, and maintaining long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions. It’s not a checkbox — it’s a culture of accountability that runs through every decision we make as buyers.
When the farmer wins, the coffee wins. There’s no great specialty coffee without a healthy supply chain behind it.
Phyllis Johnson, CEO, BD Imports
The traceability of each coffee on our menu is something we take seriously. You can always ask us where your coffee came from, who grew it, how it was processed, and what price we paid. Transparency isn’t just good ethics — it’s good coffee culture.
How to Choose an Ethically Sourced Coffee
Look for roasters who publish their sourcing information, name their farm or cooperative partners, and indicate the price paid above commodity. Certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Direct Trade are useful signals, but they’re no substitute for a roaster who genuinely knows the people behind the coffee and can tell you that story in their own words.
All five coffees on this list are available in our cafe and as retail bags to take home. Each bag includes a QR code linking to the producer’s profile, so you can learn more about the people who grew your coffee.
Takeaway
Ethical sourcing is the foundation of everything we do. When you buy from us, you’re not just getting a great cup of coffee — you’re participating in a supply chain built on fairness, respect, and shared success. That’s something worth raising a mug to.
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