For the specialty coffee industry, certifications are like the second wave of coffee, they are out of fashion! They no longer serve their purpose, and this is because the needs of consumers have changed and have become more diverse and complex. What specialty coffee lover wants to drink a bitter coffee at Starbucks, when they can just as easily have a fruity Kenya lightly roasted at an independent coffee shop?
This phenomenon also occurs at the farm level. For example, the coffee farmer no longer wants the 0.2 USD/LB that Fair Trade offers him, but instead wants a direct and ethical trade with the importer of microlots who will pay him 4 USD/LB or more. Paying for the inspection of organic coffees has also lost its meaning, with climate change there are cultivation areas where it does not rain for months/years, and the coffee grower must use chemical fertilizers, otherwise they lose the harvest.
According to the University of Florida, “Certified coffees take into account one or more aspects of sustainability. This means that the coffee is grown in a healthy environment, is economically viable for farmers, promotes equity between farmers and workers, or all three.” The problem with certifications is that each of them does not cover all the aspects that are considered important, and that makes them inefficient.
In a new form of coffee trade, closely linked to specialty coffee, attempts are being made to remove the middle men, women or the international certification company. Ethical trade is a very different method, or even an ideology, that focuses on creating a direct bridge between the consumer and the producers. It is about shortening the supply chain and buying directly from cooperatives of small farmers. In this way, coffee farmers get better value for their crops and consumers get better quality coffee at a more affordable price.
It should be noted that at Kilimanjaro Specialty Coffees we select lots exclusively for their cup quality and organoleptic characteristics, and not for their certifications. We pay a price that rewards quality, respects the work of the coffee grower and promotes sustainable farming and process practices. At the origin, things are far from optimal, but we must know where we want to go at least and point in that direction to generate small changes step by step.
Enjoy your coffee!
In a new form of coffee trade, closely linked to specialty coffee, attempts are being made to remove the middle men, women or the international certification company. Ethical trade is a very different method, or even an ideology, that focuses on creating a direct bridge between the consumer and the producers. It is about shortening the supply chain and buying directly from cooperatives of small farmers. In this way, coffee farmers get better value for their crops and consumers get better quality coffee at a more affordable price.
It should be noted that at Kilimanjaro Specialty Coffees we select lots exclusively for their cup quality and organoleptic characteristics, and not for their certifications. We pay a price that rewards quality, respects the work of the coffee grower and promotes sustainable farming and process practices. At the origin, things are far from optimal, but we must know where we want to go at least and point in that direction to generate small changes step by step.
Enjoy your coffee!
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