A Good Cup of Coffee

So I mentioned fair trade the other day, and as I'm drinking my coffee I am thinking this is one of the biggest changes I have made in my consumption habits.  This is a bit of a tightrope to walk, because I don't want to make people feel burdened with something instead of inspired by something.  I hope you will take my thoughts on this in stride, and know that I don't judge people for not taking up all of my causes or internalizing all of my convictions. Please take a free pass and don't read today's post if you would like to not analyze your morning cuppa joe. 

We drink lots of coffee.  Not just me and Jeff, but our nation.  It's, like, a staple.  One that we, as a big powerful and only recently downgraded country seek big, cheap supplies from the "Third World." When we do that, sometimes small farmers go from being able to provide a simple yet sufficient life for their families to being on the edge of starvation and disaster.  A cheaper commodity can mean a slashed income for someone not exactly living in the lap of luxury in the first place.  If you want an in-depth look at the coffee system, watch the documentary Black Gold.  

The amount of injustices in the world are myriad, and the idea of addressing them all is overwhelming.  In an effort to not become completely depressed or crazy, we make choices which battles to engage in.  Because coffee is something I need enjoy on a daily basis, I should examine my participation in the coffee cycle.  Coffee also happens to be one of those things where conscious-clearing alternatives exist.  You can buy coffee with the little fair trade logo on bags in your grocery store, for instance. Wegman's store brand carries a couple of fair trade blends, as does Target's. Even Aldi is selling a fair trade blend now! A good brand sold in many stores and at Bruegger's is Green Mountain.

I buy all kinds of brands, but I have 2 favorites I must tell you about. Available online via Amazon, and possibly the best practice company on the planet is  Pura Vida. 
They are serious about changing business models to benefit ALL people involved and protect the environment.   (Oh yeah, other benefits of fair trade coffee are not only that it is usually of superior quality, it is usually organic).

Perhaps the coffee dearest to my heart is Paramount's Rwanda Coffee .
Have you ever seen Hotel Rwanda?  This coffee is Michigan State University's effort to make sure something like the 1994 war and genocide never happens again in that country.  They work with farmers in Rwanda to make sure they have a market for and are paid well for their coffee.  It's just an all around beautiful partnership.  And good coffee.  You can get it online, or if you are one of the lucky souls who lives in or around East Lansing, MI (insert my sigh of longing), you can purchase it at Goodrich's Shop-Rite or at your local Biggby's.  It's what I'm drinking this morning. 

Coffee may not be your passion. But there might be something else that is.  If you would ever like to share something you've learned with an audience, please contact me and we can talk about an O,R guest writer spot for you.  Maybe even over a cup of fair trade coffee:)