Busy as we are at Café Campesino, we're also enjoying the opportunity to relax a little and savor summer's pleasures – biking, swimming, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, or just sitting on the porch with a mug of our favorite brew thinking about life. In that spirit, in month's issue of Fair Grounds, Tripp ponders the Fair Trade model – what it can and can't do for our producer partners. We also offer an article on a cupping workshop at Coffee Labs International, a Customer Spotlight, a profile of a Fair Trade friend, a Community Caravan update, plus a new Fair Trade Fact, Dr. Coffee, recipe and trivia question. Read on…

(Back to Headlines)

"Time and time again, our producer partners tell us that the timing of payments provided for by the practice of Fair Trade is as critical to them as is the payment of a fair price for their coffee," says Bill Harris, president of Café Campesino. This statement and the message it conveys present us with a meaningful opportunity to take a necessary, hard look at what we are trying to accomplish by buying Fair Trade coffee and other Fair Trade products. Our producer partners have made it clear that Fair Trade is not just about paying a fair price for their goods, it’s also about issues like pre-financing, quality control and technical support, dialogue, long-term relationships and capacity-building – where the proverbial rubber hits the road. So often, the critical on-going dialogue between producers and buyers is undervalued or even overlooked when considering its contribution to Fair Trade. Well, the message from our producers is clear and sobering and, ultimately, offers a reality check.

Read more…

(Back to Headlines)

The Cooperative Coffees Green Bean Committee coordinated the first-ever roasting and cupping workshop June 10 and 11, with the support of Mané Alves at Coffee Lab International in Vermont. Attending was a lively blend of the coop’s experienced to most neophyte roasters. Participants included: TJ Semanchin, Peace Coffee; Larry Larson, Larry's Beans; Drew Park, Bongo Java; Lee Harris, Cafe Campesino; Chris Treter, Higher Grounds Trading; and Monika Firl, Cooperative Coffees.

Cupping exercises included blind tastes, grading and discussing how our beans compare to "typical" or "exceptional" coffees from same region.

We were able to experiment, looking at the affects of changing speed and temperatures, and to discuss the ideal roast profiles for our stock varieties.

"You want to find the sweet spot of every coffee," Mané Alves recommended. "Drive out the moisture, get to the first pop, then work the characteristics of the bean."

We discussed how different green processing techniques affect cup quality, and we were able to take a close look at some promising new sources.

"The class was great!" said Café Campesino roaster, Lee Harris. "I was thoroughly impressed with Mané, his facility and his staff. I feel that I have a much better understanding of the cupping process and the SCAA form, and a better understanding of how to manipulate the roaster machine to get the coffee roast I want."

The experience was rich, rewarding and… a whole lot of fun!

(Back to Headlines)

David Dial, who just reopened Java Heads as its new owner, has spent the past several years becoming a seasoned barista and connoisseur of great coffee. His interest in fair trade started three years ago when he began to research organic and fair trade coffees; it wasn’t until the 2003 SCAA in Boston though that he became a believer. Skeptical about Fair Trade and organic coffees’ ability to hold up to specialty coffee’s high standards for quality and taste, David was pleasantly surprised to find that Fair Trade coffee really is exceptional. Commenting "I kept my eyes and palate open" to the possibilities of quality fair trade coffee, David recently chose Café Campesino to ensure that his customers get the "real thing."

Java Heads offers light coffee house fare and is doing more and more of its own baking – great light snacks, Fair Trade coffee and a perfect coffee house atmosphere – what more could a coffee enthusiast ask for! We hope that those of you living in Tallahassee (or just passing through) will stop by and visit Dave and his crew at 1447 East Lafayette St. in Tallahassee (850-877-2223). Welcome Java Heads!

(Back to Headlines)

In our next issue, we’ll prep you all for Café Campesino’s upcoming participation in a number of interesting events, including the September Green Festival in Washington D.C.

In the meantime, read about us in Atlanta Latino:
http://www.atlantalatino.com/detail.php?id=2802
(Click "In English" in top right corner if needed)

(Back to Headlines)

We're giving away coffee! 

Think you know a lot about coffee? Then enter our Fair Grounds Trivia Contest. Click here for our question of the month. Entering is easy and it's FUN!

Our Coffee Knowledge winner for June is Karen Estes who knew that coffee is the number two commodity in the world, second only to petroleum. This ranks coffee ahead of metals and grains! Coincidentally, Karen lived in Americus several years ago and is the super-talented designer of our colorful product labels. Congratulations, Karen!

(Back to Headlines)

-- Thomas Jefferson

• June 2004 The Promise of Fair Trade, Fair Trade Friend: Global Crafts
• May 2004 Fair Trade at the Carter Center, SCAA meeting.
• April 2004 Coffee and Community in Nicaragua, Fair Trade in Americus Makes the News!
• March 2004 Fair Trade chocolate, Rosetta's Kitchen
• February 2004 Bill's Return to Guatemala, Guayakí Rainforest
• January 2004 Espresso - What's the Buzz?
• December 2003 Fair Trade: Global Exchange's Fair Trade Challenge; Fellow Fair Traders: SERRV International
• November 2003 Fair Trade: More Than Just a Fair Price; Fellow Fair Traders: Lucuma Designs
• October 2003 Exploring the Coffee Regions
• September 2003 Cooperative Coffees Annual Meeting
• August 2003 Fair Trade Friends: Oxfam America; The Art (and Science) of Roasting Coffee
• July 2003 Exploring Our Origins: Sumatra
• June 2003 Exploring Our Origins: Guatemala; Gayo Mountain Adventure; Dr. Coffee - Cupping
• May 2003 Fair Trade Friends: United Students for Fair Trade; World Fair Trade Day
• April 2003 Exploring Our Origins: Ethiopia; Celebrating Earth Day with Fair Trade
• March 2003 Bill's Central American Adventures, Part 2; SWP Decaffeination
• February 2002 Bill's Central American Adventures, Part 1
• January 2003 My Life as a Bean
• December 2002 Exploring Our Origins: East Timor; Sustainable Development
• November 2002 New Website; Gift Baskets
• October 2002 Interview with roaster Lee Harris
• September 2002 ForesTrade Wins UN Sustainability Award; Exploring Our Origins: Sumatra's Gayo Cooperative
• August 2002 Producer News: Shade Grown; Fair Trade Friends: Atlanta Audubon
• July 2002 Exploring Our Origins: Colombia
• June 2002 Back Roads Journal: Cooperative Coffees and Café Campesino; Exploring Our Origins: Peru; Fair Trade Friends: Music of the Andes
• May 2002 Staff Notes: Cinco de Mayo; Producer News: Visit to Mut Viz; Back Roads Journal: SCAA Meeting
• April 2002 Back Roads Journal: Travels in Fair Trade; Customer Composting Tip