Coffee Certification Information

Organic

This certification has 3 different steps to be able to be sold as certified organic.  The farm has to be certified, the importing company has to be certified and the roaster has to be certified.  This is a very expensive process for all 3 parties involved so while many coffees follow the requirements to be organic not many of them are able to afford the certification process.

Fair Trade

This certification requires that the farmers offer healthy working conditions, fair wages for the farmers and other criteria that aim to improving the farming communities.  This certification has a lot of requirements for the farmers to meet, however, it also ensures that the coffee is sold for no less than $1.55/pound for organic and $1.35/pound for all other processed coffee.

Earth Friendly

Is a certification that promotes the farmers to have greater involvement on the milling, processing, and exporting of coffee from remote mountain farms.  They do this through education, environmental conservation and sustainability.  They are fair trade, chemical free, organic, shade grown and quality beans.

Rain Forest Alliance

This certification is when coffee is grown on a farm where forests, rivers, soils, and wildlife are protected.  Because of the way these coffees are grown they are also organic by default.  Workers are paid a minimum wage, they have the proper equipment, and the farmers have access to education and medical care.

Do Good Initiative

This is a group that centers on those who grow coffee and their community in Rwanda and Haiti.  By purchasing this coffee the farming communities are able to get help they need to get updated equipment and give the people who live in these villages an education.