In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:

> 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.

Yes. And the amount paid is MUCH higher than what the commodity price, or
the price paid by "coyotes" would be. Not only that, but Fairtrade has
certain minimum quality standards, so the coffee tends to be at least
pretty good.

That being said, one can get better coffee, cheaper, and with more going
to the farmer, by other buying methods.

I don't want to make the better be the enemy of the good, however.
Fairtade is good.

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

> URL?

http://www.coffeekids.org/

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

- The Who

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:49:12 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

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

So for non-expresso type coffees what do you like?

I've been studying the offerings at Sweet Marias, but haven't yet come
up with anything definite. I'm placing a $5.00 a pound limit on this
since it's in the nature of an experiment and don't care for a lot of
acidity in the cup. I really like the Eight O'Clock brand I grind at
the store so would like to replicate that if I could. It's 100%
Arabica, but except for their Colombian version they don't say where
the beans come from.

......Alan.


--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.

In rec.food.cooking, A.T. Hagan > wrote:
> On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:49:12 +0000 (UTC),
> wrote:

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

> So for non-expresso type coffees what do you like?

For years I really liked the bright East Africans, like Kenya and
Tanzania. Lately, I've been drinking more American coffees. I had some
from Panama that was nothing short of excellent. But earlier today, I
roasted some Ethiopian, from the Yrgacheffe region.


> I've been studying the offerings at Sweet Marias, but haven't yet come
> up with anything definite. I'm placing a $5.00 a pound limit on this
> since it's in the nature of an experiment and don't care for a lot of
> acidity in the cup.

Try some central or south american coffee. Brazil, colombia, panama.


I really like the Eight O'Clock brand I grind at
> the store so would like to replicate that if I could. It's 100%
> Arabica, but except for their Colombian version they don't say where
> the beans come from.

> .....Alan.


> --
> Curiosity killed the cat -
> lack of it is killing mankind.

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

- The Who

Nancy Young wrote:
> Greg Zywicki wrote:
>
>> Also, I'm sure I'm the only one without the ridiculous American
>> disdain for sweetener and dairy in coffee.
>
> I had to read this three times to make sure I hadn't read it wrong.
> I've stood on enough coffee cart/cafeteria lines to know that's not
> true. Cream and sugar, just about everyone. I no longer drink
> coffee, but I had it with light cream ... I'd settle for half and
> half, but would do without if only milk was available. No sugar
> for me.

Recently I met up with some Americans on a tour to Pompeii and we dined at
the same table.
After dining, coffee was served and the Americans asked me what the coffee
was like in Australia, was it like Italian coffee ?

Me "oh yes, I am so glad to be away from France and drinking this fab.
Italian coffee < sees look >"
Me: "you don't like the Italian coffee?"

Anyway, it was the milk thing. They were missing their cream and
half-n-half, which I thought was weird too, as i'd never been a fan of the
coffee in America. Anyway, I think i scared them off their Aussie visit


--
Respomnsibility is my husband's middle name

wrote:
> Greg Zywicki > wrote:
>
>> Also, I'm sure I'm the only one without the ridiculous American
>> disdain for sweetener and dairy in coffee. You can drink black
>
> The only significant group of Americans that I can think
> of who seem to drink black coffee are Navy and ex-Navy
> people. I know around New York City and its suburbs
> ordering a coffee "regular" will get you cream and sugar
> added in. They wouldn't be calling that "regular"
> if it was unusual.

We used to have an artist's breakfast at Uni.
Black coffee and a cigarette

( it was 1. "cool" .. and 2. safer than drinking the milk at most student's
houses

--
Respomnsibility is my husband's middle name

Smithfarms Pure Kona wrote:
>
> My Kona green beans are less than sweet marias and I daresay, they are
> just as good.
>
> aloha,
> Thunder the bean picker too
> http://www.smithfarms.com
> Farmers & Sellers of 100%
> Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff


is it worth your while to offer these people a fresh tiny small sample of
your stuff ?
i'm sure they'd report back here if it were good, and then, based on their
word, many more might buy direct too.

I reckon it's worth it. I'd offer to try it and give an honest report, but
i'm a little out of your distribution field, I think

--
Respomnsibility is my husband's middle name

On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 18:28:49 -0600, BubbaBob
> wrote:

(A.T. Hagan) wrote:
>
>
>> I've been studying the offerings at Sweet Marias, but haven't
>> yet come up with anything definite. I'm placing a $5.00 a pound
>> limit on this since it's in the nature of an experiment and
>> don't care for a lot of acidity in the cup. I really like the
>> Eight O'Clock brand I grind at the store so would like to
>> replicate that if I could. It's 100% Arabica, but except for
>> their Colombian version they don't say where the beans come
>> from.
>
>Tom doesn't sell anything that would mimic '8 O'Clock' coffee. You'd
>have to really abuse any of his beans to make them taste that bad.

Very encouraging. Thanks Bubba.

......Alan.


--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.

On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 01:14:38 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

>Try some central or south american coffee. Brazil, colombia, panama.

Those were the ones that seemed to be closest to what I was looking
for. I'll choose one and give it a try. Thanks.

......Alan.


--
Curiosity killed the cat -
lack of it is killing mankind.

wrote:
>
> 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.

No... primarily Fairtrade (at least that sold in the UK) try to form
coops so the growers can become landowners. When that isn't possible,
they ensure that the growers are paid fair wages, get healthcare and
housing and the children get an education, even if they must work in the
fields.
>
> 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 probably is, even if the trademark isn't used. The point isn't the
trademark, but the conditions and fairness to all involved.

>
> > 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.

Haven't heard that before (the better reputation that is).
>
>

Smithfarms Pure Kona wrote:
>
> 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.

It shouldn't be necessary in the US.
Not that much American agriculture is a model for labour fairness, but
at least there are laws whether or not they are being followed.

>
> 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..

If you are not abusing the system, then you have no need of the
Fairtrade trademark. But you are certainly in the minority.
>

wrote:
>
> 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.
>
>

Thank you, I know that; I just wanted some cites.

wrote:
>
> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> Yes. And the amount paid is MUCH higher than what the commodity price, or
> the price paid by "coyotes" would be. Not only that, but Fairtrade has
> certain minimum quality standards, so the coffee tends to be at least
> pretty good.
>
> That being said, one can get better coffee, cheaper, and with more going
> to the farmer, by other buying methods.
>
> I don't want to make the better be the enemy of the good, however.
> Fairtade is good.
>
> > >
> > > If helping coffee farmers is something you feel strongly about, another
> > > excellent organization is CoffeeKids.
>
> > URL?
>
> http://www.coffeekids.org/
>



I used to buy that branded coffee in the UK (most of the large
supermarket chains sell it) but haven't seen it here in the US locally.

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

> When that isn't possible,
> they ensure that the growers are paid fair wages, get healthcare and
> housing and the children get an education, even if they must work in the
> fields.

I didn't know that.

> > 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 probably is, even if the trademark isn't used. The point isn't the
> trademark, but the conditions and fairness to all involved.

That's begging the question. Fairtrade is a trademark of the Fairtrade
Foundation, which certifies other companies' output. La Minita Coffee is
not certified by the Fairtrade Foundation, and therefore, by definition,
is not Fairtrade coffee.

Despite not being Fairtrade, the owner of the plantation treats his
workers well.

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

- The Who

In rec.food.cooking, lea > wrote:

> i'm sure they'd report back here if it were good, and then, based on their
> word, many more might buy direct too.

Cea's coffee is nothing short of excellent. And besides that, Cea is a
good person. I'm now in the mood to roast some up! I save it for
occasions.

And I've heard great things about her macadamia nuts, but have never
sampled them.

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

- The Who

In rec.food.cooking, lea > wrote:

> I reckon it's worth it. I'd offer to try it and give an honest report, but
> i'm a little out of your distribution field, I think

Sorry to reply twice to the same post, but if you were to Google on
Smithfarms at alt.coffee, you'd find many, many glowing comments about
her coffee.

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

- The Who

On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 16:01:53 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

>In rec.food.cooking, lea > wrote:
>
>> I reckon it's worth it. I'd offer to try it and give an honest
report, but
>> i'm a little out of your distribution field, I think
>
>Sorry to reply twice to the same post, but if you were to Google on
>Smithfarms at alt.coffee, you'd find many, many glowing comments
about
>her coffee.

Thanks Eskwired. You are very kind.

btw, we found early on that samples did not work. What worked was
trying our hardest to do the best coffee from farming to green.We are
extremely grateful to people like Eskwired. They make our world.

warm aloha,
Cea
http://www.smithfarms.com
Farmers & Sellers of 100%
Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff

In article >,
wrote:

> 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?


Need someone to hold your phrasebook?

Miche

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

In article >,
wrote:

> In rec.food.cooking, Miche > wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> Yes. And the amount paid is MUCH higher than what the commodity price, or
> the price paid by "coyotes" would be. Not only that, but Fairtrade has
> certain minimum quality standards, so the coffee tends to be at least
> pretty good.
>
> That being said, one can get better coffee, cheaper, and with more going
> to the farmer, by other buying methods.
>
> I don't want to make the better be the enemy of the good, however.
> Fairtade is good.

Yep. And since the good is all I can afford right now, that's what I'll
buy and look forward to the better.

> > >
> > > If helping coffee farmers is something you feel strongly about, another
> > > excellent organization is CoffeeKids.
>
> > URL?
>
> http://www.coffeekids.org/

Thanks.

Miche

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