Why Ethical Coffee Matters

Coffee is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages in the world. According to [Statista], more than 166 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee were produced worldwide in 2020, and more than 1.6 billion cups of coffee were consumed every day. Coffee is not only a delicious and energizing drink, but also a source of income and livelihood for millions of people, especially in developing countries.

However, coffee production and consumption also have significant social and environmental impacts, which raise ethical questions and challenges for coffee lovers, producers, and consumers. In this post, we will explore why ethical coffee matters, what are the main issues and difficulties related to ethical coffee, how to source and choose ethical coffee, and how to be an ethical coffee consumer.

History of Ethical Coffee

The history of ethical coffee can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when coffee was a major commodity in the global trade and colonialism. Coffee plantations were often established by exploiting the land and labor of indigenous people, who were subjected to harsh working conditions, low wages, and human rights violations.

Coffee production also contributed to deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. As a result, some social movements and organizations emerged to advocate for fair trade, organic farming, and environmental protection in the coffee industry.

3 examples of ethical coffee

One of the earliest examples of ethical coffee was the Max Havelaar label, launched in 1988 by a Dutch non-governmental organization called Solidaridad. The label aimed to guarantee a fair price and decent working conditions for small-scale coffee farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The label also promoted democratic participation, gender equality, and environmental sustainability in the coffee cooperatives. The Max Havelaar label inspired other fair trade initiatives and certifications around the world, such as [Fairtrade International], [Rainforest Alliance], [UTZ Certified], and [Bird Friendly].

Another example of ethical coffee was the organic movement, which started in the 1940s as a reaction to the industrialization and chemicalization of agriculture. Organic farming aims to produce food without using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic farming also sought to preserve soil health, water quality, and biodiversity. Organic coffee was certified by various organizations and standards, such as USDA Organic, EU Organic, JAS Organic, and IFOAM Organic.

A third example of ethical coffee was the specialty coffee movement, which began in the 1970s as a response to the mass production and commodification of low-quality coffee. Specialty coffee aimed to produce high-quality coffee with distinctive flavors and aromas, based on the origin, variety, processing method, roasting style, and brewing technique of the coffee beans. Specialty coffee also valued transparency, traceability, and direct trade between the coffee growers and roasters, which often resulted in higher prices and better relationships. Specialty coffee was evaluated by various organizations and standards, such as [Specialty Coffee Association], [Cup of Excellence], and [Q Grader Program].

These examples show that ethical coffee has a long and diverse history, which reflects the different values and goals of the coffee stakeholders. Ethical coffee is not a single concept, but a spectrum of possibilities and choices.

Why is Ethical Consumerism so Difficult?

Ethical consumerism is the practice of choosing products and services that have positive social and environmental impacts, or at least minimize the negative ones. Ethical consumerism is based on the idea that consumers have the power and responsibility to influence the market and the society through their purchasing decisions. Ethical consumerism can be applied to various domains, such as food, clothing, electronics, travel, etc. In this section, we will focus on ethical consumerism in the coffee industry.

Ethical consumerism in the coffee industry is not easy, for several reasons. First, there is a lack of information and transparency about the origin, production, and distribution of coffee. Coffee is a complex and global commodity, which involves multiple actors and stages, such as farmers, traders, processors, exporters, importers, roasters, retailers, and consumers. Each actor and stage adds value and cost to the coffee, but also creates potential risks and challenges for the quality, sustainability, and fairness of the coffee.

However, most consumers do not have access to or awareness of the full story behind their coffee cup. They may not know where their coffee comes from, how it was grown, processed, transported, roasted, and brewed, who was involved in each step, and what were the social and environmental impacts of each step. This makes it difficult for consumers to make informed and ethical choices about their coffee consumption.

Second, there is a lack of standardization and regulation of ethical coffee labels and certifications. As we saw in the previous section, there are many different types of ethical coffee labels and certifications, such as fair trade, organic, specialty, etc. Each label and certification has its own criteria, requirements, and benefits for the coffee producers and consumers.

However, there is no universal or official definition or agreement on what constitutes ethical coffee, or how to measure and verify it. This creates confusion and inconsistency among the different labels and certifications, which may have overlapping or conflicting goals and methods.

For example, some fair trade labels may not require organic certification, while some organic labels may not guarantee fair prices. Some specialty labels may focus on quality rather than sustainability, while some sustainability labels may compromise quality. Some labels may be more rigorous and reliable than others, while some may be more accessible and affordable than others. This makes it difficult for consumers to compare and trust the different labels and certifications of ethical coffee.

Third, there is a lack of motivation and willingness to pay for ethical coffee among consumers. Ethical coffee often comes with a higher price tag than conventional coffee, due to the higher costs of production, certification, and distribution. Ethical coffee also requires more effort and attention from consumers, such as researching, reading, and verifying the labels and certifications, or finding and visiting the specialized outlets that sell ethical coffee.

However, many consumers may not have the budget, the time, or the interest to pay for or pursue ethical coffee. They may prioritize other factors, such as convenience, availability, or brand loyalty, over ethics. They may also be skeptical or indifferent about the impact or benefit of ethical coffee, or they may feel powerless or overwhelmed by the complexity and magnitude of the issues related to ethical coffee. This makes it difficult for consumers to adopt and sustain ethical consumerism in the coffee industry.

Why Ethical Coffee Matters – Ethical Coffee Sourcing I

Ethical coffee sourcing is the process of obtaining coffee beans that meet certain ethical standards and criteria, such as fair trade, organic, specialty, etc. Ethical coffee sourcing involves various actors and factors, such as farmers, cooperatives, certifiers, traders, roasters, retailers, and consumers.

Ethical coffee sourcing aims to improve the quality, sustainability, and fairness of the coffee industry, by addressing the social and environmental issues and challenges related to coffee production and consumption. In this section, we will discuss some of the main aspects and benefits of ethical coffee sourcing.

Fair Trade

Fair trade is a movement and a certification system that promotes fair and ethical trade practices between producers and consumers in the global market. Fair trade aims to empower small-scale farmers and workers in developing countries, by ensuring them a fair price, a fair wage, a fair working environment, and a fair share of the benefits from the trade.

Fair trade also supports democratic participation, gender equality, community development, and environmental protection in the producer groups. Fair trade coffee is certified by various organizations and standards, such as [Fairtrade International], [Rainforest Alliance], [UTZ Certified], etc.

Some of the benefits of fair trade coffee are:

• Fair trade coffee guarantees a minimum price for the coffee beans, which covers the costs of sustainable production and provides a stable income for the farmers.
• Fair trade coffee also pays a premium for the coffee beans, which is invested in social and environmental projects in the producer communities, such as education, health care, infrastructure, etc.
• Fair trade coffee ensures decent working conditions for the farmers and workers, such as safe equipment, protective clothing, adequate rest, etc.
• Fair trade coffee respects the rights and dignity of the farmers and workers, such as freedom of association, collective bargaining, non-discrimination, etc.
• Fair trade coffee encourages democratic participation and empowerment of the farmers and workers, such as through cooperatives, committees, and networks.
• Fair trade coffee supports gender equality and women’s empowerment in the producer groups, such as through training, leadership, and ownership.
• Fair trade coffee promotes environmental sustainability and biodiversity in the producer regions, such as through organic farming, shade-grown cultivation, soil conservation, water management, etc.

Organic

Organic is a movement and a certification system that promotes natural and ecological farming methods without using synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic aims to produce healthy and nutritious food while preserving soil health, water quality, and biodiversity. Organic coffee is certified by various organizations and standards, such as [USDA Organic], [EU Organic], [JAS Organic], and [IFOAM Organic].

Some of the benefits of organic coffee are:

• Organic coffee avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs in the coffee production, which reduces the exposure and risk of harmful substances for the farmers, workers, consumers, and wildlife.
• Organic coffee enhances the soil health and fertility in the coffee farms, which improves the nutrient content and water retention of the soil.
• Organic coffee conserves the water quality and quantity in the coffee regions, which prevents the contamination and depletion of the water sources.
• Organic coffee preserves the biodiversity and ecosystem services in the coffee landscapes, which protects the flora and fauna that coexist with the coffee plants.

Specialty

• Specialty coffee showcases the unique characteristics and profiles of the coffee beans, which reflect the terroir, the genetics, and the craftsmanship of the coffee. Terroir is the combination of factors that affect the growth and quality of the coffee plants, such as soil, climate, altitude, etc.
  Genetics is the variation and selection of the coffee varieties, such as arabica, robusta, or hybrids. Craftsmanship is the skill and artistry of the coffee processors, exporters, importers, roasters, and brewers, who influence the flavor and aroma of the coffee through different methods and techniques.
• Specialty coffee enhances the quality and consistency of the coffee beans, which are measured by various criteria and standards, such as size, shape, color, density, moisture content, defects, etc. Specialty coffee also enhances the quality and consistency of the coffee brews, which are measured by various criteria and standards, such as acidity, sweetness, bitterness, body, aftertaste, balance, etc.
• Specialty coffee rewards the excellence and innovation of the coffee producers and roasters, who receive higher prices and recognition for their coffee beans. Specialty coffee also rewards the excellence and innovation of the coffee consumers, who enjoy more variety and satisfaction in their coffee experiences.

Why Ethical Coffee Matters – Ethical Coffee Sourcing II

One of the main challenges of ethical coffee is how to ensure that the beans are sourced from farms that respect the environment and the workers. Coffee is grown in over 50 countries, mostly in the tropics, where there are diverse social and ecological conditions. Some of the factors that affect ethical coffee sourcing are:

Organic farming methods

Organic coffee is grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. This reduces the environmental impact of coffee production and protects the health of farmers and consumers. Organic coffee also tends to have higher quality and flavor than conventional coffee. However, organic certification can be costly and difficult to obtain for small-scale farmers, especially in developing countries.

Sustainable packaging solutions

Coffee packaging is another aspect of ethical coffee sourcing that often gets overlooked. Coffee packaging can have a significant environmental footprint, depending on the materials, processes, and transportation involved.

Some of the common types of coffee packaging are plastic bags, paper bags, metal cans, glass jars, and pods. Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of durability, recyclability, biodegradability, and carbon emissions.

For example, plastic bags are lightweight and cheap, but they are not easily recycled or composted. Paper bags are biodegradable and renewable, but they require more energy and water to produce and transport. Metal cans and glass jars are recyclable and reusable, but they are heavy and expensive. Pods are convenient and portion-controlled, but they generate a lot of waste and are not widely accepted by recycling facilities.

Therefore, ethical coffee sourcing should consider the environmental impact of coffee packaging and seek to minimize it as much as possible. Here you can learn the best way to store coffee beans.

Fair trade and direct trade

Fair trade and direct trade are two approaches to ethical coffee sourcing that aim to improve the economic and social conditions of coffee farmers and workers. Fair trade is a certification system that guarantees that coffee producers receive a minimum price for their beans, as well as a premium for community development projects.

Fair trade also ensures that coffee production meets certain environmental and labor standards, such as avoiding child labor, forced labor, and discrimination. Direct trade is a more informal and direct relationship between coffee roasters and farmers, where roasters pay higher prices for high-quality beans and support the farmers in various ways, such as providing training, equipment, or loans.

Both fair trade and direct trade can help coffee farmers improve their livelihoods and reduce their vulnerability to market fluctuations. However, they also have some limitations and challenges, such as the high costs of certification, the lack of transparency and accountability, and the potential for exploitation or exclusion of some farmers.

Most ethical coffee

With so many factors and variables involved in ethical coffee sourcing, it can be hard to determine which coffee is the most ethical. There is no definitive answer to this question, as different consumers may have different preferences and priorities when it comes to ethical coffee. However, some general guidelines that can help consumers choose the most ethical coffee are:

• Look for certifications and labels: Certifications and labels can provide some assurance that the coffee meets certain standards of quality, sustainability, and fairness. Some of the common certifications and labels for ethical coffee are organic, fair trade, direct trade, rainforest alliance, UTZ, bird-friendly, and shade-grown. However, consumers should also be aware of the limitations and challenges of certifications and labels, such as the high costs, the lack of transparency, and the potential for greenwashing or misleading claims.
• Research the origin and story of the coffee: Knowing where and how the coffee was grown, processed, and traded can help consumers understand the environmental and social impact of their coffee choices. Consumers can research the origin and story of the coffee by reading the information on the packaging, visiting the website of the roaster or producer, or contacting them directly. Consumers can also look for traceability systems that allow them to track their coffee from farm to cup, such as blockchain or QR codes.
• Support local and independent roasters and cafes: Buying coffee from local and independent roasters and cafes can help consumers support small businesses and communities passionate about ethical coffee. Local and independent roasters and cafes often have more direct and personal relationships with coffee farmers and workers and can offer more transparency and accountability for their coffee-sourcing practices. They can also provide more variety and quality of coffee and more education and awareness for consumers.

One example of ethical coffee I found, is Danesi Caffe Italian Coffee Beans. You can read my Danesi Coffee Beans Review here.

Be an ethical coffee consumer

Ethical coffee sourcing is not only the responsibility of coffee producers, roasters, and traders but also of coffee consumers. Coffee consumers can play a vital role in promoting and supporting ethical coffee practices by making informed and conscious choices about their coffee consumption. Some of the ways that coffee consumers can be more ethical are:

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed reading this post on why ethical coffee matters. Stay tuned for a follow-up post on where to buy ethical coffee. With ethical coffee in your cup. your morning coffee gets even better.

Thank you for your attention! 😊