specialty coffees

Relationship Coffees

The fundamentals of a Relationship Coffee comprise the following:

• A direct, grower-to-buyer relationship; Roaster buys coffee from a specific group or grower‘s association, for an agreed period of time
• A fixed price, not dependant on the international price, which covers production costs, plus a quality and social premium
• Growers will commit directly with roaster to use the premium received in improving the quality of life of their community
• Coffee supplied by coffee growers is of the highest quality harvested, which usually means there is a limited quantity available
• A guarantee for the roaster as to the exact origin of the coffee received, matched by a commitment by the roaster not to blend it with other coffees; and
• Roaster and importer work with growers to build a “brand name” and to prepare marketing material to educate roaster‘s customers.

This new approach is a transparent method that generates trust among all parties and ensures that the majority of the price paid by roasters goes to coffee growers.