Coffee Trips

---

Our trips to diverse coffee growing regions serve as a way to stay connected to our producers and seek out potential producers, which we believe is integral to being truly fair trade. These trips are an educational experience where we learn about coffee production — and they're also a pleasure when meeting the owners and workers who run these farms!

Nicaragua
2024

We traveled to Nicaragua in 2024 to visit a number of coffee farms, including Aldea Global and Prodecoop. Our travels took us through Managua, Ocotal, and Esteli. While there, we also had the opportunity for a cupping experience in Cafetos de Segovia, where we got to explore the rich flavors of Nicaraguan coffee.

Brazil
2023

In 2023, we had the opportunity to visit Cooxupé, a coffee co-op in São Paulo, our Brazilian direct trade partner.

This co-op, founded in 1937, employs over 200 agronomists, technicians, and veterinarians to work alongside their farmers. In 2014, their focus on social impact and responsibility--in particular, their program Escola Consciente--earned them the Andef Award. This award is among Brazil's most prestigious agricultural awards. Try our Brazilian Mogiana here.

Dominican Republic
February 2014

In 2014 we had a very special opportunity to meet our direct trade partners at Spirit Mountain organic coffee farm in the Pico Duarte region of the Dominican Republic. 
​
Spirit Mountain coffee is grown on a 350 acre ecological reserve located high in the Central Mountain Range of the Dominican Republic. We stayed on the plantation, tried our hand at farming (it's not easy work at all!), and learned nature's secret to a deep, flavorful Caribbean brew. Try our Red Honey Dominican Pico Duarte.

Costa Rica
December 2012

Traveling in the central highlands and valley of Costa Rican coffee country, we toured a few of the coffee producing estates. Notably, Doka Estate coffees proved to have some of the finest beans. We sampled coffees and had a wonderful breakfast at Cafe Tres Generaciones before embarking on Doka's tour of the plantation, processing plant, and roastery. Since then, our appreciation has grown immensely for the dedicated men and women who produce Costa Rican fair trade coffee. Try our Costa Rican Tarrazu here.

Panama
January 2010

​We arrived in Panama City and took a small charter plane to the town of David where we met our guide who drove us to Kotowa Estate Coffee in the highlands of Boquette. This region's coffee is grown at 4500 feet in a mountainous area famous for its year-round climate that's ideal for developing coffee with good body, rich chocolate aroma, and sweet acidity.

The cherries are hand picked by the Ngäbe indigenous people of Panama who harvest the same trees up to five times per season to guarantee that only the right beans are selected.