Before we get into what specific coffee we have, we make note that there are several types of coffee which can be sold.

Commodity Market Coffee – Big industry coffee is continuously bought and sold throughout our marketplace. It is dealt with in container lots, mostly by traded positions in the commodities market. From there it ends up in the hands of brokers and large roasters with which your form relationships to purchase in smaller than container quantities.  It is usually good quality, or should I say commensurate with its rating and the buyers cupping standards. Great for industrial use due to its consistency in process from origin. Single origins tend to be blended from several farms within the regions of particular countries, due to possible dramatic flavor changes based on different growing conditions.

Certified Fair Trade Coffee – these are coffees produced by democratically run cooperatives whose members have been guaranteed a “fair” price for their coffee based on an internationally determined formula. A premium of what consumers pay for their Fair Trade coffee goes to promote the fair-trade principles in consuming nations, but mostly reaches farmers directly. Most Fair Trade coffee is also organic as well as shade grown, adding to it’s environmental responsibility and allowing for a progressive choice by the buyer.

Rainforest Alliance Certified – The Rainforest Alliance’s Certification (which Abby from the Alliance promptly pointed out to me used to be called the Eco-OK seal, now wasn’t that a better name! Just my two cents….. ) certifies that inspection has determined that the farms and mills meet a wide variety of environmental criteria, including wildlife diversity, non-polluting practices and responsible use of chemicals. Beyond that there are additional social and economic criteria which support the welfare of the farmers and the mill workers.

Sustainable Coffee – A project of the SCAA to create a big-tent, inclusive definition of sustainability which will combine criteria for the environment as well as social and economic sustainability. Hoepfully sooner than latere….

Partnership or Relationship Coffee – Partnerships created with cooperatives by the roaster, in which a fixed percentage of the retail price of the coffee is returned directly to the cooperative that produced it, outside of any international certifying bodies. These are the coffees that tend to be of the highest quality due to the marriage of producer and roaster fulfilling both their needs in terms of taste and quality of product.

Will continue to talk about geography and classic coffee producers