5 Ethical Coffee Brands For Your Next Morning Brew
Coffee has a far greater impact on the environment than we realise.
Developed nations are the biggest consumers of coffee, with the Unites States, France and Germany being the largest importers. Conversely, third world nations such as Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam and Mexico account for more than 90 percent of coffee exports. According to a report by the US Department of Labor, evidence suggests the presence of child labour and/or labour exploitation in coffee production in the aforementioned countries, as well as others such as Costa Rica, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire and Dominican Republic.
Coffee demand is expected to triple by 2050, and the Sustainable Coffee Challenge Organization is guiding everyone to meet this demand in an effective, responsible and sustainable way. The organisation's goal is to unite industry experts, consumers, governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The British Coffee Association are also playing their part in reducing the environmental impact of coffee, which includes everything from sustainable growing to reducing waste during the roasting and manufacturing processes; reducing the carbon footprint during distribution; and improving infrastructure for coffee cup and single-serve pod recycling.
We’ve selected five ethical coffee brands to sustainably provide your coffee fix.
1. Stumptown Roasters £££
American-based coffee brand Stumptown Roasters, is dedicated to providing a transparent roasting process. Stumptown's coffee team source directly, spending half of the year sourcing the best coffee from around the world. They spend time on farms, in mills and cupping labs getting to know their producer partners. Close relationships formed between the company and its producers, eliminate the need for bulk purchases and full knowledge of the quality of the coffee bean is ensured.
The producers are paid more generously than they would be on the commodity market, because the Stumptown Roasters recognise the amount of work involved in providing the best coffee - hand-picking each bean at optimal ripeness and processing it with meticulous care.
Coffee Roasted Daily | Stumptown Coffee Roasters
2. Wood St Coffee ££
Wood St Coffee ensures that their coffee is sourced and harvested responsibly, roasted with love and brewed with precision. This brand is all about ensuring their coffee is grown in regions with specific climates and altitudes; and that it is farmed sustainably by experienced growers in small plantations, for a fair price.
To extract their full flavour, all of the coffees prepared by Wood St Coffee's exceptional team are made using a set ratio, or 'recipe' of coffee, water, time, and pressure!
3. The Gentlemen Baristas £££
As coffee roasters, the green beans that The Gentlemen Baristas roast, are carefully and responsibly sourced from all over the world, ensuring that their beans are high scoring and consistently exceptional.
The Gentleman Baristas sell a vast variety of blends and beans online, all named after men’s hats. Bowler, for example, is a coffee named La Falda, hailing from the Garzon region in Huila, Colombia. Turn to the Bowler when you need a light coffee to keep you energised any time of the day.
4. Perky Blenders ££
Perky Blenders is a family run coffee brand that supplies exceptional single origin coffees and blends, to various locations across London and runs a successful letterbox subscription service. All of their coffee is fully traceable, sourced responsibly and from smallholders, where possible. The zipper, plastic inside and valve of Perky Blender's coffee packaging are oxi-biodegradable, or 'oxo-degradable.' This means that they will degrade into fragments in landfills within 18-24 months of being placed there.
Perky Blenders Specialty Coffee
5. Union Coffee £
Union has received over 40 Great Taste Awards in the past seven years, proving its unquestionable expertise in speciality coffee. Not only does Union coffee taste great but they also have great ethical practises. Steven Macatonia and Jeremy Torz, the founders of Union, are working tirelessly to address the alarming statistics of working conditions in the coffee industry.
Along with providing high-quality coffee, Union's core philosophy emphasises ethical treatment of coffee farmers. The Union Direct Trade sourcing principle focuses on building supportive and mutually beneficial partnerships with farmers, resulting in premium quality coffee enjoyed at no cost.
Union Coffee | Speciality Coffee