A sustainable future for coffee is uncertain. However, enjoy better

Issue: Speciality coffee is not commodity coffee, and buying coffee advertised as being 'certified sustainable' often doesn't guarantee the best for farmers and producers. In detail... For more: Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)
...Many certifications seek to ensure that producers receive the price they deserve and one that allows them to operate in a sustainable way. One example of that is Fairtrade certified coffee, which can be found in your local supermarket and guarantees the Fairtrade Minimum Price of $1.40 per pound for the producer. However, when compared with the Speciality Coffee Association's alternative recommended price threshold for profitability of $2.50 per pound, this indicates a gulf of $1.10 per pound and highlights the true perspective on sustainability - a point which Fairtrade seems to fall short of, as do many other widespread sustainability-focused programmes.

Speciality coffee is not commodity coffee in definitive ways, one of which is that many of the best independent speciality coffee roasters optionally pay upward of $4.00-5.00 per pound for their imports in the common belief that this is a much fairer price for the farmers, their communities and the coffee supply chain. Through direct-to-source relationships, suchlike provides their producers with added certainties, and only on such certainties can producers truly commit to sustainable practices, be it in the present, on investment for the future or in mitigation strategies against unknown events such as forest fires, drought and more. By our customers making conscious purchases from the best of independent coffee roasters - most of which can be found on the marketplace or through our coffee subscriptions - instead of less ethical and sustainable supermarket / multinational cafe alternatives, you too can help contribute towards the support and sustainability of the global coffee supply chain. Besides, the differences in quality of taste need not even be mentioned, all there to be seen and enjoyed.

"Coffee is the single most consumed product of the First World that is produced by Third World countries"

That is what we believe and whilst it is a beverage for us to all enjoy, it should be our privilege to consciously consider which coffee we're consuming.

Being sustainable is about more than just the planet. It's also about the people and earning enough profit to survive

With all third world country coffee farmers an embedded part of their communities, whether they're small or part of co-operatives, lives and families depend on the export. Fair purchasing should be a minimum.

For years, unfair shareholder-pleasing coffee purchasing made by multinational cafe chains and lower-grade roasters is fundamentally driving the problem

Third world coffee farmers wish to operate sustainably to survive for tomorrow. It's a basic human right. Coffee purchased by consumers in multinational cafe chains is heavily overpriced, all served with an abundance of sugars to mask it's true quality. To tackle the crisis they drive, GUSTATORY widens the conversation that speciality coffee is so much more than commodity coffee.

Curating the best of speciality coffee roasters, each doing more than recognised standards

By example, Fairtrade's Minimum Price guarantees $1.40 per pound for producers, yet many coffee roasters or multinational cafe chains don't even meet this. By comparison, the best of speciality coffee roasters optionally pay upward of $4.00-5.00 per pound. Why? To produce better quality and towards a more sustainable and ethical future for coffee. Plus, for consumers to enjoy speciality coffee, they don't even need to pay any higher prices.
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A home-brewed quality coffee is far less expensive than cafes

Issue: With the continuing economic uncertainty that COVID and the cost-of-living crisis brings, many are tightening the purse strings and choosing cheaper alternatives. However...For more: Comunicaffe International
...Whilst the purse strings may need to tighten, a better quality home-brewed coffee or tea is still far less expensive than buying individual drinks on the go. Over the last few years, many have taken the opportunity to improve their home brewing skills, and now with the equipment and know-how to recreate that authentic coffee shop experience from home, are enjoying cheaper quality coffees. With cafe coffees costing anything from £2.50-4.00 each, and with a bag of 250g quality coffee costing between £7.00-12.50 and providing you with enough to achieve up to 15-35 brews per bag (depending on brew method and strength preferences), the savings and better quality coffee are both there to be enjoyed.

If this isn't you, there really is no better time to start, and better yet, at GUSTATORY you’ll find plenty of affordable options from our huge range of quality independent roasters and brands from across UK, Europe and North America to support you in doing just that. With it easy to browse and shop for coffee on the marketplace or subscribe to a coffee subscription, it also won't be long until you discover a new favourite. All marketplace purchases are shipped direct for product freshness, with all subscriptions roasted fresh for us as part of our monthly delivery schedules.

The coffee industry is in crisis. Informed purchases are needed

Issue: Coffee prices are in crisis, which threatens the very existence of many coffee producers, and so, the future of coffee globally.For more: GUSTATORY on Sky News Radio (Interview)
Our Answer: Informed purchasing decisions are advised, from the independent coffee roasters featured here on the GUSTATORY marketplace. Through direct-to-source relationships, roasters are able to protect their supply chains from the effects of price volatility as they form special relationships with producers. These relationships also protect producers as roasters often commit to fixed term and fixed price contracts, which give producers certainty. This certainty is what producers need in order to not only survive but thrive, committing to sustainable practices and addressing other global problems that are threatening the industry such as climate change.

Make their commitment your commitment. Support independent coffee roasters and you’ll be making a difference before you even have your first cup of coffee.