Go into any coffee shop today and you will be typically be
faced with a large menu board of different speciality
coffee drinks to suit your taste and pocket. Do you go for
a regular latte or a strong and bracing ristretto? A
standard cappuccino or an Americano? Perhaps some of the
options you have not yet experienced.
However whatever your choice of coffee style, one thing to
consider is how the coffee was sourced. Many coffee houses
and restaurants today offer coffees that have been sourced
from ethical sources, where care has been taken to ensure
the third world farmers and their families have not been
exploited, and that their basic human requirements
including, healthcare, accommodation and schooling has been
provided for.
In addition many such 'ethical' coffees are produced in a
way that does not harm the environment and is farmed from
sustainable sources, including water and wildlife
conservation.
Each of these organisations have a slightly different slant
on the subject and have their emphasis on different aspects
of ethical drinks. This might be the livelihood of the
farm-workers, care of the environment, traceability of
supply, commitment to the future etc.
There now appears to be an ever growing number of
organisations emerging promoting ethical sourced beverage
products that it can be difficult to keep up with them.
How do you know which to use? Fairtrade certified,
Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Ethical Tea Partnership, The
Cocoa Partnership, Max Havelaar or even bird friendly
coffee!
In general you pay slightly more for a genuinely ethically
sourced beverage, than the house coffee from 'standard'
sources and the degree of premium varies.
It is not just coffee of course, but tea, hot chocolate and
many cold drinks are now promoting themselves as 'ethically
sourced'
Look out for the official logo of these organisations
promoting ethical and sustainably sourced hot beverages and
do your own due diligence.
Perhaps take the time to Google the various organisations
and decide which best suits your own views.
Another thing to take into account is what criteria is used
for a given beverage ingredient to be approved. Fairtrade
for example insist that 100% of the ingredients are sourced
from Fairtrade approved official sources, but the
Rainforest Alliance logo is allowed to be placed on
packaging of products where only a minimum of 50% has been
ethically sourced.
It can be a bit of a jungle out there, but all of the
reputable organisations do a fine job of promoting the
awareness and support of third would producers and care of
the environment.
Make sure you always insist on ethically and sustainably
produced coffee and other hot beverages and enjoy your
drink with a clear conscience.
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Find out more about ethically and sustainably produced
coffees at our web site http://www.cafebar.co.uk
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