What is fair trade and direct trade coffee?

A responsible consumer wants to be aware that the coffee he or she purchased was produced in a fair manner, respecting human rights and the principles of a sustainable economy. That is why the terms fair trade and direct trade are increasingly used on the coffee market. Each of them assumes a slightly different approach to the production and sale of coffee.

What is fair trade coffee?

Fair trade coffee is a product whose production and distribution is based on fair trade principles. Fair trade is a grassroots social and business movement with an international reach. Its idea was born in the 1960s as a response to the marginalization and poverty of producers from Africa and Latin America. Initially, its aim was to support craftsmen. In the 1980s and 1990s, it expanded to other branches of production, especially the food industry. The largest percentage of the entire organization's turnover is currently generated by fair trade coffee.

What are the requirements for fair trade coffee production?

The guarantee of fair trade in coffee is the fair trade certificate shown on the packaging. It is intended to counteract the precarious situation of coffee growers from the global South. The production and distribution of fair trade coffee is subject to a number of requirements, including:

• stable product price,
• at least one-year contracts,
• fair trade practices,
• mechanisms supporting the development of the local community,
• safe and decent working conditions for farmers,
• limiting environmentally harmful chemicals.

What is direct trade coffee?

Unlike the fair trade system, the idea of ​​direct trade is not associated with the operation of a specific organization. By establishing direct relations between the roastery and the grower, direct trade coffee is purchased directly from the farmer. The assumption of this trade model is maximum mutual benefits for all its participants. Bypassing sales intermediaries means that the grower receives a fair, fixed payment. This, in turn, mobilizes him to produce the highest quality beans. The buyer can effectively control it thanks to close cooperation with the farmer.

Direct trade coffee at Mott Coffee

Fair trade and direct trade systems help stabilize the coffee market and improve the quality of life of growers. Therefore, when making a purchase decision, it is worth taking into account not only the quality of the product, but also the transparency and honesty of the mechanisms of its acquisition and sale. At Mott Coffee, one thing does not exclude the other. The specialist coffee offered by the company is a carefully selected non-commercial product, imported directly from two growers from distant Costa Rica. Their selection was preceded by several years of searching, resulting in coffee with unique taste and smell.