C.A.F.E. Practices

A Reason for C.A.F.E. Practices

This graphic shows just how volatile the world price of coffee is.  In February of this year, coffee was $1.65 a pound, in early December the price had dropped to $1.17 a pound.  Simply put, while a farmers’ income has dropped drastically, his costs have stayed the same or increased.

The people most affected by this volatility are the small lot coffee farmers.  People who have farms of one or two acres.  Farms that provide us with amazing coffees like, Ethiopia Bitta Farm, Huehuetenango or Rwanda Abakundakawa.  These farmers and others do benefit though from participation in programs like Starbucks CAFÉ practices. CAFÉ guarantees a minimum price.  There is also financial assistance, education to improve agricultural practices and infrastructure investment.

There are other similar programs.  Fair Trade, Relationship Coffee and Shade Grown Coffee.  All of these programs including CAFÉ are audited by an independent audit firm on a regular basis.  Consistently, the CAFÉ system has been judged to be the most effective and efficient when it comes to improving the lives of small lot coffee farmers.

This isn’t coming from head office in Seattle.  This is from an organization entirely independent of Starbucks.  I think the best coffee comes from these small lot farmers.  It is our responsibility to honour these farmers, so committed to their land. CAFÉ  Practices helps these farmers, and I’m kind of proud of that.