Ethically Sourced Coffee Guide: How to Buy Ethical Coffee & Sustainable Coffee Brands

If you love coffee, you’re in good company. 67% of American adults had coffee in the past day, more than any other beverage including tap water. We’ve found a myriad of ways to prepare, consume, and incorporate this delicious plant into our daily rituals and routines, but it’s easy to forget that there are farmers whose livelihoods depend on this crop.

International Coffee Day and all of Fair Trade Month (October), is a perfect opportunity to think about the workers who make your favorite drink possible and to reflect on your consumer purchasing power. Did you know that you can make your dollars do more, simply by choosing Fair Trade Certified™ coffees?

For a resilient future, it’s important to understand how to make coffee sustainable. We’re committed to ensuring farmers and workers get a fair price for their goods and a fair wage for their labor, and we guarantee a minimum price for coffee beans to help protect them from market changes. On top of that, for every purchase of Fair Trade Certified coffee, additional money is returned to the producers in the form of self-directed Community Development Funds that support projects to meet their greatest needs.

Since 1998, Fair Trade Certified has delivered more than $1 billion in cumulative financial benefits to farmers, workers, and fishers across the globe!

Now, we are building on a billion dollars of impact to scale that impact further. Will you join us? Get started by checking out these sustainable coffee brands and find just a few of the many Fair Trade coffees.

How to Choose Sustainable Coffee: How Do You Know If It’s Sustainable?

You can shop for sustainable coffee online with the products above or look for products with the Fair Trade Certified label in stores.

Third-party certifications can indicate that the coffee was produced using environmentally friendly practices, fair labor conditions, and in a way that communities benefit. For example, Fair Trade Certification ensures that farmers receive a minimum price for their coffee, even if the market price drops. A portion of every purchase also goes towards Fair Trade Community Development Fund projects at origin.

You can also ask your local coffee barista where they source their coffee.

How to Make Your Coffee Sustainably

Enhance your daily coffee ritual with these eco-friendly practices:

• Choose Fair Trade Coffee: Beyond your grocery shopping, inquire if your local coffee shops source Fair Trade coffee, ensuring fair wages and sustainable farming practices.
• Minimize Coffee Waste: Brew only what you need, compost coffee grounds, avoid single-use cups, and opt for reusable filters or pour-over methods to reduce waste.
• Conserve Water and Energy: Use eco-friendly coffee machines that are designed to minimize water and energy consumption, making your coffee routine more sustainable.
• Opt for Sustainable Packaging: Choose coffee brands that offer sustainable packaging options, such as compostable pods or recyclable bags, to reduce your environmental footprint.
• Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed about sustainable coffee practices and share your knowledge with others to spread the impact.