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<\/a><\/p>\nIn Coffee Producing Countries<\/h4>\n
We’ve already learned about how coffee grows<\/a> and the harvesting process.\u00a0 We’ve also learned about different processing methods<\/a>, and how that affects the flavor of coffee<\/a>.\u00a0 Depending on the farm, they may process the coffee on site.\u00a0 Otherwise, smaller farms send the coffee to a mill or processing co-op.\u00a0 When small farms send coffee out for processing, the mills often combine it with coffees from other small producers.\u00a0 If you pick up a bag that says “co-op”, there’s a good chance it is a cooperative effort from several small farms in the same region.<\/p>\n Once coffee processing is complete, the coffee is ready for sale.\u00a0 Some coffee roasters have a partnership with a specific farm or co-op and choose to buy the coffee directly from them.\u00a0 This is one way that coffee can be direct trade.\u00a0 Otherwise, some coffee importers choose to partner with a few different farms or co-ops to facilitate coffee sales with roasters.\u00a0 This is another form of direct trade.\u00a0 One of our favorites to work with is Cafe Kreyol<\/a>, who, through their partnerships with farmers, is able to pay farmers up to 300% the rate that fair trade requires.\u00a0 You can shop our direct trade coffees here<\/a>.<\/p>\n In other cases, regional coffee sellers export the coffee to wholesalers.\u00a0 For example, a seller in Costa Rica would buy the coffee from farms and mills in Costa Rica, and then resell that coffee to importers outside Costa Rica.\u00a0 Usually, the regional sellers set the prices of coffee, rather than the farmers.\u00a0 This is why fair trade coffee<\/a> is important, to make sure that farmers are paid a sustainable amount<\/a>.<\/p>\n After sellers export the coffee, it gets loaded onto container ships and sent to the importing country.\u00a0 Coffee importers buy the coffee and then sell it to roasters in their country.\u00a0 Many importers prioritize knowing the farm from which the coffee came.\u00a0 This means the coffee is traceable<\/a>.\u00a0 Not all coffee is traceable, especially when the mill combines it with other coffee from the same region.\u00a0 And even with traceable coffee, there is not always a guarantee that the farmers are paid well because the exporter sets the price.<\/p>\n Importers have warehouses in various parts of the country, and send the coffee to those warehouses until they sell it.\u00a0It’s common in the US to have a warehouse on the east coast, west coast, and gulf coast, with different container ships headed to each port.\u00a0 In larger countries, it’s also common to have warehouses where various importers send their coffee until it is sold.<\/p>\nIn Coffee Buying Countries<\/h4>\n