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  #81 (permalink)   Report Post  
A.T. Hagan
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 09:08:05 -0400, The Cook >
wrote:

(A.T. Hagan) wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 16:04:58 -0400, FERRANTE
> wrote:
>>
>>>What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it? While I
>>>have always like Maxwell House, I have been exploring other coffees
>>>and recently ordered some from Cafe Du Monde. Anyone ever have it?
>>>I've also had Gevelia, and it's not bad, but sort of expensive. I
>>>plan on trying Starbucks soon.
>>>
>>>And you?
>>>Mark Ferrante

>>
>>I am not what one would call a coffee gourmet. I prefer Eight O'Clock
>>Bean Coffee. Grind it in the store, keep it in the freezer at home.
>>Always scrub percolator before the next pot. Seriously considering
>>getting my own coffee mill, but can't decide between the convenience
>>of an electric mill or going with a manual.

>
>If you get an electric, be sure to grind plenty before the major storm
>hits.


Well, there is that. But should I go with an electric I suppose I
could always just run them through my grain mill in the event of a
power failure. ;-)

......Alan.


--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.
  #83 (permalink)   Report Post  
Nancy Young
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

"Jack Schidt®" wrote:

> You're not odd. That's a regular coffee around here.
>
> Jack Yuban


Actually, I blame my insistance upon light cream on Dunkin Donuts.
I figured out their coffee was so good because they used light
cream rather than half and half. But a 'coffee light' was coffee
with extra light cream and a bit of sugar. Coffee regular was
most certainly coffee with cream and sugar.

At any rate, being in different places taught me another lesson.
I'm used to good water, and there are, apparently, plenty of places
in the states who have really awful water. Even Dunkin Donuts
couldn't fix that!

nancy
  #84 (permalink)   Report Post  
Jack Schidt®
 
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"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> "Jack Schidt®" wrote:
>
> > You're not odd. That's a regular coffee around here.
> >
> > Jack Yuban

>
> Actually, I blame my insistance upon light cream on Dunkin Donuts.
> I figured out their coffee was so good because they used light
> cream rather than half and half. But a 'coffee light' was coffee
> with extra light cream and a bit of sugar. Coffee regular was
> most certainly coffee with cream and sugar.
>
> At any rate, being in different places taught me another lesson.
> I'm used to good water, and there are, apparently, plenty of places
> in the states who have really awful water. Even Dunkin Donuts
> couldn't fix that!
>
> nancy


And then there was the coffee wagon who'd come to our jobsite and forget to
rinse out the Dip-It outta the urn. Owwww, my eyes hurt just thinking of
that first sip I took. OOOO, I'm dyin' again!!

Jack Dipped


  #85 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, FERRANTE > wrote:
> What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it? While I
> have always like Maxwell House, I have been exploring other coffees
> and recently ordered some from Cafe Du Monde. Anyone ever have it?
> I've also had Gevelia, and it's not bad, but sort of expensive. I
> plan on trying Starbucks soon.


Do yourself a favor, skip *$, and find a small local roaster where you can
get fresh coffee.

Your question is like asking whether Keebler makes better cookies than
chips ahoy. Both can be tasty, but compared to homemade, fresh out of
the oven...you get the idea.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who


  #86 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, jmcquown > wrote:

> Starbucks, IMO, is overrated.


Starbucks is basically like Pizza Hut. Not too bad if it is your only
choice, but anybody who has a quality pizza shop in the neighborhood
wouldn't think of going there.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #87 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:

> > What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it?


> Fairtrade. It tastes good and the growers are paid fair prices for
> their produce.


Fairtrade is not a brand, but a program. Everything else you said is
correct. In general, fairtrade coffee is fairly good. Not the finest,
but fairly good.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #88 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, Puester > wrote:

> I don't like Starbucks, it always tastes burnt to me.


Yep. And not only that, but it is not fresh.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #89 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, PENMART01 > wrote:

> The only contribution you make here is spamming your fercocktah products.


Maybe, but Cea and Bob grow excellent coffee.

What she failed to mention, however, is that it needs to be properly
roasted and consumed fresh.

I roasted some of their peaberry just last week. Yum!

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #90 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, Dog3 > wrote:

> Like wine, most coffee tastes the same to me.


Like wine, most coffee is crap.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who


  #91 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, BubbaBob > wrote:

> Life's too short for
> shitty coffee.


Agreed.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #92 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, A.T. Hagan > wrote:

> I am almost hesitant to ask this, but where's a good place to order
> green beans from?


www.sweetmarias.com is a good place to start.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #93 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, alzelt > wrote:

> Consumer Reports has done two studies on French
> Roast. Each time it came up first.


That is like saying that Wonder Bread is better than the other brands of
crappy mass-marketed white breads.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #94 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 16:04:58 -0400, FERRANTE
> wrote:

>What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it? While I
>have always like Maxwell House, I have been exploring other coffees
>and recently ordered some from Cafe Du Monde. Anyone ever have it?
>I've also had Gevelia, and it's not bad, but sort of expensive. I
>plan on trying Starbucks soon.
>
>And you?
>Mark Ferrante


For everyday coffee, give me a cup of Yuban any day. Once in a while
I like to buy coffee from a local (Gainesville GA) roaster, St. Ives.
Very good!
SusanB in GA
  #97 (permalink)   Report Post  
Jack Schidt®
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?


"Tim Challenger" <"timothy(dot)challenger(at)apk(dot)at"> wrote in message
s.com...

> "Waiter water, this coffee tastes like dirt!"
> "Of course sir, it was only ground a minute ago".
> Boom boom.
>


Keep the day job, bub ;-P

Jack Comeek


  #98 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> In article >,
> wrote:


> > In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> >
> > > > What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it?

> >
> > > Fairtrade. It tastes good and the growers are paid fair prices for
> > > their produce.

> >
> > Fairtrade is not a brand, but a program.


> Same diff, it says "Fairtrade" on the bag.


Yep. But it comes from a bunch of different sources. It is a
certification, like "Organic".

Just as a point of interest, Fairtrade guarantees the farmers a minimum
price per pound, but farmers get greatly in excess of the Fairtrade price
for truly superior coffee at auction. So while Fairtrade offers a very
good program for farmers, they can do even better by improving their
quality to the point where they produce truly superior coffee.


> > Everything else you said is
> > correct. In general, fairtrade coffee is fairly good. Not the finest,
> > but fairly good.


> And that's good enough for me. It's more important to me that the
> growers are paid a fair price for their produce than I have "picked
> today, roasted ten minutes ago, hand ground" wanky coffee.


But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.
One rfc poster gets $16.00/lb. for her truly wonderful coffee, while
Fairtrade pays farmers less than $2.00/lb.

Check out the Kenya auction price results. They are available online.
Panama auction prices are available as well. Wanky coffee routinely sells
for multiples of Fairtrade price.

And not that you are at all interested, but coffee lasts for a year or
more in its green state, and tastes best around 24 hours after roasting.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #99 (permalink)   Report Post  
Derek N.P.F. Juhl
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

FERRANTE > wrote in message >. ..

> What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it? While I
> have always like Maxwell House, I have been exploring other coffees
> and recently ordered some from Cafe Du Monde. Anyone ever have it?
> I've also had Gevelia, and it's not bad, but sort of expensive. I
> plan on trying Starbucks soon.
>
> And you?


I prefer Starbucks. Although many people consider it overroasted, in
my opinion, the full-city roast allows the flavours to come through
best. A lighter roast tastes "green" to me.

I usually buy Starbucks Fair Trade.

Derek Juhl, Seattle
  #100 (permalink)   Report Post  
Smithfarms Pure Kona
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 21:52:22 +1300, Miche >
wrote:

>In article >,
> wrote:
>
>> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>>
>> > > What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it?

>>
>> > Fairtrade. It tastes good and the growers are paid fair prices

for
>> > their produce.

>>
>> Fairtrade is not a brand, but a program.

>
>Same diff, it says "Fairtrade" on the bag.
>
>> Everything else you said is
>> correct. In general, fairtrade coffee is fairly good. Not the

finest,
>> but fairly good.

>
>And that's good enough for me. It's more important to me that the
>growers are paid a fair price for their produce than I have "picked
>today, roasted ten minutes ago, hand ground" wanky coffee.
>
>Miche


The Fair Trade demarcation is not available for farmers in the US,
such as we Kona farmers. When you live in the US as we do in Hawaii,
it is assumed correctly that we pay taxes, pay our laborers a fair and
equitable wage, we also follow all US Department of Agriculture rules-
which means that Kona Coffee has never been touched by pesticides
which is not necessarily true of other coffees etc. We also want
Health insurance and the regular middle class America stuff.

I agree with EskWIRED. Fair Trade is not the be-all or end-all
although it is a beginning.

Out to pick coffee all day again.
Aloha,
Thunder
http://www.smithfarms.com
Farmers & Sellers of 100%
Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff


  #101 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, Smithfarms Pure Kona > wrote:

> I agree with EskWIRED. Fair Trade is not the be-all or end-all
> although it is a beginning.


And if all you got for your coffee was the fair-trade price, you'd be
better off tearing out the coffee trees and building condos...

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #102 (permalink)   Report Post  
Miche
 
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In article >,
Smithfarms Pure Kona > wrote:

> On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 21:52:22 +1300, Miche >
> wrote:


> >And that's good enough for me. It's more important to me that the
> >growers are paid a fair price for their produce than I have "picked
> >today, roasted ten minutes ago, hand ground" wanky coffee.

>
> The Fair Trade demarcation is not available for farmers in the US,
> such as we Kona farmers.
> When you live in the US as we do in Hawaii,
> it is assumed correctly that we pay taxes, pay our laborers a fair and
> equitable wage, we also follow all US Department of Agriculture rules-
> which means that Kona Coffee has never been touched by pesticides
> which is not necessarily true of other coffees etc. We also want
> Health insurance and the regular middle class America stuff.


Good. I'm glad to hear it.

> I agree with EskWIRED. Fair Trade is not the be-all or end-all
> although it is a beginning.


I never said it was the be-all and end-all. It's just the way I choose
to buy coffee most of the time.

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
-- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

  #103 (permalink)   Report Post  
Miche
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In article >,
wrote:

> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> > In article >,
> >
wrote:
>
> > > In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> > >
> > > > > What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it?
> > >
> > > > Fairtrade. It tastes good and the growers are paid fair prices for
> > > > their produce.
> > >
> > > Fairtrade is not a brand, but a program.

>
> > Same diff, it says "Fairtrade" on the bag.

>
> Yep. But it comes from a bunch of different sources. It is a
> certification, like "Organic".


Ours says where it came from, generally.

> Just as a point of interest, Fairtrade guarantees the farmers a minimum
> price per pound, but farmers get greatly in excess of the Fairtrade price
> for truly superior coffee at auction. So while Fairtrade offers a very
> good program for farmers, they can do even better by improving their
> quality to the point where they produce truly superior coffee.


And some may do that. I don't know.

> > > Everything else you said is
> > > correct. In general, fairtrade coffee is fairly good. Not the finest,
> > > but fairly good.

>
> > And that's good enough for me. It's more important to me that the
> > growers are paid a fair price for their produce than I have "picked
> > today, roasted ten minutes ago, hand ground" wanky coffee.

>
> But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.


But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
-- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

  #104 (permalink)   Report Post  
Arri London
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

Miche wrote:
>
> In article >,
> wrote:
>
> > In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> > > In article >,
> > >
wrote:
> >
> > > > In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > > What is your favorite brand of coffee and why do you like it?
> > > >
> > > > > Fairtrade. It tastes good and the growers are paid fair prices for
> > > > > their produce.
> > > >
> > > > Fairtrade is not a brand, but a program.

> >
> > > Same diff, it says "Fairtrade" on the bag.

> >
> > Yep. But it comes from a bunch of different sources. It is a
> > certification, like "Organic".

>
> Ours says where it came from, generally.
>
> > Just as a point of interest, Fairtrade guarantees the farmers a minimum
> > price per pound, but farmers get greatly in excess of the Fairtrade price
> > for truly superior coffee at auction. So while Fairtrade offers a very
> > good program for farmers, they can do even better by improving their
> > quality to the point where they produce truly superior coffee.

>
> And some may do that. I don't know.
>
> > > > Everything else you said is
> > > > correct. In general, fairtrade coffee is fairly good. Not the finest,
> > > > but fairly good.

> >
> > > And that's good enough for me. It's more important to me that the
> > > growers are paid a fair price for their produce than I have "picked
> > > today, roasted ten minutes ago, hand ground" wanky coffee.

> >
> > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.

>
> But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.
>
> Miche
>


And the last statement about standard coffee yielding a better price to
the farmer is generally not true. The brokers and people in the middle
take the largest cut; the farmers are often in debt year after year.
That is the basis for Fairtrade coffee: the people growing the coffee
get *more* money than they would through the usual channels. The coops
formed eliminate most of those brokers who would otherwise take most of
the profit.

Fairtrade coffee is never too expensive. I cut down my coffee
consumption in order to buy Fairtrade. In the UK it wasn't more
expensive than any other decent coffee and most of the supermarkets
feature it anyway.

While it is still considered a little 'exotic' here locally (In NM) it's
still worth it to me.

Coffee in the US is extremely cheap. Yet the brokers and the roaster and
the retailer make money off of that. The grower gets the smallest cut of
all, as with much agricultural produce.
  #105 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:

> > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.


> But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.


If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely more,
than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers. I am not
opposed to Fairtrade. Some other people are, because it does not pay the
farmers as much as they would get by improving quality. Generally, it is
used as a marketing thing. Dunkin Donuts, for example, is selling
Fairtrade coffee. By doing so, they pay less per pound than they would if
they were to buy true specialty coffee, and give the impression that they
are helping farmers. Indeed, they are helping farmers, and the coffee
they get is better than average. but alternatives exist which help the
farmers more, and provide better coffee (and a better value) to consumers.

If helping coffee farmers is something you feel strongly about, another
excellent organization is CoffeeKids.

But anytime you buy specialty coffee, Fairtrade or not, you help farmers,
and anytime you buy supermarket-type canned coffee, you hurt farmers.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who


  #106 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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In rec.food.cooking, Arri London > wrote:

> > > Just as a point of interest, Fairtrade guarantees the farmers a minimum
> > > price per pound, but farmers get greatly in excess of the Fairtrade price
> > > for truly superior coffee at auction. So while Fairtrade offers a very
> > > good program for farmers, they can do even better by improving their
> > > quality to the point where they produce truly superior coffee.

> >



> And the last statement about standard coffee yielding a better price to
> the farmer is generally not true.


Nobody here made any such statement. "Standard" coffee doesn't even yield
enough to the farmer to put food on his table. "Truly superior coffee",
OTOH, yields more to the farmer than Fairtrade coffee.


The brokers and people in the middle
> take the largest cut; the farmers are often in debt year after year.
> That is the basis for Fairtrade coffee: the people growing the coffee
> get *more* money than they would through the usual channels. The coops
> formed eliminate most of those brokers who would otherwise take most of
> the profit.


If you are comparing Fairtrade to commodity coffee production, you are
correct. But nobody here is discussing commodity coffee production.


> Fairtrade coffee is never too expensive. I cut down my coffee
> consumption in order to buy Fairtrade. In the UK it wasn't more
> expensive than any other decent coffee and most of the supermarkets
> feature it anyway.


My point is that "other decent coffee" can yield more to the farmer than
Fairtrade coffee, and "truly superior coffee" usually yields more.

> While it is still considered a little 'exotic' here locally (In NM) it's
> still worth it to me.


Good for you.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #107 (permalink)   Report Post  
A.T. Hagan
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 03:37:31 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

>In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>
>> > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.

>
>> But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.

>
>If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely more,
>than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers. I am not
>opposed to Fairtrade. Some other people are, because it does not pay the
>farmers as much as they would get by improving quality. Generally, it is
>used as a marketing thing. Dunkin Donuts, for example, is selling
>Fairtrade coffee. By doing so, they pay less per pound than they would if
>they were to buy true specialty coffee, and give the impression that they
>are helping farmers. Indeed, they are helping farmers, and the coffee
>they get is better than average. but alternatives exist which help the
>farmers more, and provide better coffee (and a better value) to consumers.
>
>If helping coffee farmers is something you feel strongly about, another
>excellent organization is CoffeeKids.
>
>But anytime you buy specialty coffee, Fairtrade or not, you help farmers,
>and anytime you buy supermarket-type canned coffee, you hurt farmers.


That statement could be made about most farming the world over. Buy
pastured poultry (grass raised) and the farmer gets a bigger cut of
the profits. Buy most anything that eliminates more of the middle men
and the farmer gets more of the profits.

Of course, the price may be half-again, or double, or more, of what
you used to pay in the supermarket so you'll be spending a greater
portion of your discretionary income for it - IF you can afford to do
so.

For the folks who can afford luxury items like specialty coffees this
is all well and good. For the folks who can't or don't want to spend
their discretionary income on such things they'll stick with the
usual.

I think if you can produce a specialty item that commands a higher
premium go for it! I have done the same in the past with eggs and
will do so again in the future. Of course, it cost me more to produce
those eggs than the chicken factories, but they were worth it and to
my customers they were glad to pay it.

But it's a fairly small market relative to the mass produced stuff and
probably always will be. As much as I like Kona coffee (and I do) I'm
not going to pay $13.00-$16.00 a pound for it - which is what Sweet
Marias wants for their green Kona beans. The $4.00-$5.00 a pound
stuff has some possibilities since we don't drink more than about four
cups of coffee in a day. If I drank coffee like I used to when I was
still working graveyard shift even that would be beyond the pale.

......Alan.
--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.
  #108 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, A.T. Hagan > wrote:

> That statement could be made about most farming the world over. Buy
> pastured poultry (grass raised) and the farmer gets a bigger cut of
> the profits. Buy most anything that eliminates more of the middle men
> and the farmer gets more of the profits.


Lately, I've been buyig directly from the farmers whenever possible. Then
they get 100%.


> For the folks who can afford luxury items like specialty coffees this
> is all well and good. For the folks who can't or don't want to spend
> their discretionary income on such things they'll stick with the
> usual.


The comparison is not between specialty coffee and commodity coffe, but
rather, between Fairtrade specialty coffee, which yields the farmer (IIRC)
$1.16/lb. and other specialty coffee, which yields the farmer, in some
cases, much more.

> But it's a fairly small market relative to the mass produced stuff and
> probably always will be. As much as I like Kona coffee (and I do) I'm
> not going to pay $13.00-$16.00 a pound for it - which is what Sweet
> Marias wants for their green Kona beans. The $4.00-$5.00 a pound
> stuff has some possibilities since we don't drink more than about four
> cups of coffee in a day.


I rarely spend more than 4 or 5 per pound. Fairtrade usually costs more,
but gives less to the farmers.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #110 (permalink)   Report Post  
Arri London
 
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wrote:
>
> In rec.food.cooking, Arri London > wrote:
>
> > > > Just as a point of interest, Fairtrade guarantees the farmers a minimum
> > > > price per pound, but farmers get greatly in excess of the Fairtrade price
> > > > for truly superior coffee at auction. So while Fairtrade offers a very
> > > > good program for farmers, they can do even better by improving their
> > > > quality to the point where they produce truly superior coffee.
> > >

>
> > And the last statement about standard coffee yielding a better price to
> > the farmer is generally not true.

>
> Nobody here made any such statement. "Standard" coffee doesn't even yield
> enough to the farmer to put food on his table. "Truly superior coffee",
> OTOH, yields more to the farmer than Fairtrade coffee.


I don't think so but don't have a cite to hand. It's the people in the
middle who get the most money.

>
> The brokers and people in the middle
> > take the largest cut; the farmers are often in debt year after year.
> > That is the basis for Fairtrade coffee: the people growing the coffee
> > get *more* money than they would through the usual channels. The coops
> > formed eliminate most of those brokers who would otherwise take most of
> > the profit.

>
> If you are comparing Fairtrade to commodity coffee production, you are
> correct. But nobody here is discussing commodity coffee production.
>
> > Fairtrade coffee is never too expensive. I cut down my coffee
> > consumption in order to buy Fairtrade. In the UK it wasn't more
> > expensive than any other decent coffee and most of the supermarkets
> > feature it anyway.

>
> My point is that "other decent coffee" can yield more to the farmer than
> Fairtrade coffee, and "truly superior coffee" usually yields more.


Not really certain of that. After all the growers (the people who do the
work) in most countries don't own the coffee plantations.

>
> > While it is still considered a little 'exotic' here locally (In NM) it's
> > still worth it to me.

>
> Good for you.
>

It's good for everyone


  #111 (permalink)   Report Post  
Arri London
 
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wrote:
>
> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>
> > > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.

>
> > But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.

>
> If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely more,
> than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers.



That's probably not true. Few farmers own coffee plantations. At least
with Fairtrade, the people who grow the coffee have a chance to own the
land. If that's not possible, they get a larger share of the profit.

I am not
> opposed to Fairtrade. Some other people are, because it does not pay the
> farmers as much as they would get by improving quality. Generally, it is
> used as a marketing thing. Dunkin Donuts, for example, is selling
> Fairtrade coffee. By doing so, they pay less per pound than they would if
> they were to buy true specialty coffee, and give the impression that they
> are helping farmers.


But Dunking Donuts and similar places have never ever had
top-of-the-line specialty coffee. They never will sell such coffee, as
the profit margin to them would be lower. When people want truly
superior coffee they don't go to either Dunkin Donuts or to Starbuck's.
So it makes sense for those outlets to sell Fairtrade coffee. Everyone
benefits.



Indeed, they are helping farmers, and the coffee
> they get is better than average. but alternatives exist which help the
> farmers more, and provide better coffee (and a better value) to consumers.


You haven't yet provided one instance of this.

>
> If helping coffee farmers is something you feel strongly about, another
> excellent organization is CoffeeKids.
>
> But anytime you buy specialty coffee, Fairtrade or not, you help farmers,
> and anytime you buy supermarket-type canned coffee, you hurt farmers.


You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
Fairtrade will help farmers.
  #112 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, Arri London > wrote:

> Not really certain of that. After all the growers (the people who do the
> work) in most countries don't own the coffee plantations.


That is a good point. Fairtrade pays the landowners, but I have always
wondered about their workers.

You might be interested in Googling for informatin about the Hacienda La
Minita in Costa Rica. They produce truly superior coffee, and the owner
is legendary for treating his workers well. He sets up schools for their
kids, etc.

La Minita is usually more expensive than other coffees from Tarrazu, but
the quality alone is worth the premium, not to mention the good work the
owner has done.

His coffee is not Fairtrade.



> It's good for everyone


I can't disagree. I think Fairtrade is a Good Thing. Another organization
which directly helps farmers and workers is CoffeeKids. They are worth
contributing to, and in some circles, have a better reputation than
Fairtrade.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #113 (permalink)   Report Post  
Smithfarms Pure Kona
 
Posts: n/a
Default Favorite brand of coffee?

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:05:43 -0600, Arri London >
wrote:

wrote:
>>
>> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>>
>> > > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than

Fairtrade.
>>
>> > But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.

>>
>> If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely

more,
>> than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers.

>
>
>That's probably not true. Few farmers own coffee plantations. At

least
>with Fairtrade, the people who grow the coffee have a chance to own

the
>land. If that's not possible, they get a larger share of the profit.
>
>I am not
>> o

>
>You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
>Fairtrade will help farmers.


Fair Trade is not applicable to Kona Coffee.

I am a farmer and we have the land lease to 5 acres. We grow Kona a
specialty coffee. When you buy from us, it goes directly to the
farmer. That is who we are.

aloha,
Thunder..





http://www.smithfarms.com
Farmers & Sellers of 100%
Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff
  #116 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, Arri London > wrote:

> You haven't provided any instance that specialty coffee which is not
> Fairtrade will help farmers.


http://www.laminita.com/
http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/b.../213452051.htm

Hope you find these to be interesting. And as I've said repeatedly, I
have nothing against Fairtrade.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #117 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, Smithfarms Pure Kona > wrote:

> I am a farmer and we have the land lease to 5 acres. We grow Kona a
> specialty coffee. When you buy from us, it goes directly to the
> farmer. That is who we are.


IMO, buying directly from the farmer is a Good Thing.


> http://www.smithfarms.com
> Farmers & Sellers of 100%
> Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff


--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
  #118 (permalink)   Report Post  
Miche
 
Posts: n/a
Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In article >,
wrote:

> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>
> > > But the wanky coffee yields a better price to the farmer than Fairtrade.

>
> > But it's priced so that I can't afford to buy it.

>
> If you buy Fairtrade coffee, you pay at least as much, and likely more,
> than non- Fairtrade coffees which yield more for the farmers. I am not
> opposed to Fairtrade. Some other people are, because it does not pay the
> farmers as much as they would get by improving quality.


They're free to grow what they want and sell it on the open market,
though, right? If they think Fairtrade _isn't_ giving them a fair price
for their produce.

And one thing Fairtrade does is give them a guaranteed minimum price.

> Generally, it is
> used as a marketing thing. Dunkin Donuts, for example, is selling
> Fairtrade coffee. By doing so, they pay less per pound than they would if
> they were to buy true specialty coffee, and give the impression that they
> are helping farmers. Indeed, they are helping farmers, and the coffee
> they get is better than average. but alternatives exist which help the
> farmers more, and provide better coffee (and a better value) to consumers.
>
> If helping coffee farmers is something you feel strongly about, another
> excellent organization is CoffeeKids.


URL?

> But anytime you buy specialty coffee, Fairtrade or not, you help farmers,
> and anytime you buy supermarket-type canned coffee, you hurt farmers.


Yes.

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
-- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

  #120 (permalink)   Report Post  
 
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Default Favorite brand of coffee?

In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
> > Lately, I've been buyig directly from the farmers whenever possible. Then
> > they get 100%.


> Except for shipping.


True. Maybe a trip to Kona or Guatamala is in my future?

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who
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