Serious question about those 'ethical' coffee shops that pay farmers more

I compared two local spots in Portland last month, one that brags about fair trade and one that just quietly sources direct from a farm in Guatemala. The quiet one's beans were way fresher and the barista actually knew the farmer's name instead of just saying 'we partner with a co-op.' Does the marketing label actually help the farmers, or is it just making customers feel better?

3 comments

3 Comments

karen3611mo ago

My buddy runs a coffee cart downtown and he paid triple the wholesale price for his last batch from a small farm in Honduras, still had the sticker shock from the big name roaster he used to buy from. The farmer got a legit bonus for the quality, not just a feel-good certificate on a bag. Marketing labels are for customers, real relationships are for the check that actually clears.

charles_mitchell1mo ago

Your buddy’s doing it right. Skipping the middleman and paying up front builds trust that lasts longer than any sticker on a bag.

william_garcia1mo agoMost Upvoted

Quiet sourcing means nothing if the farmer still gets paid less.