We are committed to sustainable coffee.

In 1988, about the time Bill Fishbein was founding Coffee Kids and when there were only two or three organic coffees available, Coffee Exchange proudly purchased and served these organic coffees, even though the price was higher than conventionally grown coffee, and when Organic Coffee had not yet achieved its reputation for outstanding taste.

Organic Agriculture pretty much defines sustainability. By preserving and enriching the environment in which they work and raise their families, organic coffee farmers act responsibly by not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and thereby protecting the land, air and waterways of their community as well as the future health of their families. As great tasting organic coffee became more available over the next twenty years or so, so did our commitment to purchase and roast as much high grown, organic Arabica coffee as we could find. Similarly, Fair Trade coffees came on the scene in 1998.

The Fair Trade movement uses a market approach and social conscience to promote global change through consumer support. Fair Trade ensures that a fair price is paid to the coffee farmer – a price that is set higher than global market conditions of supply and demand would normally dictate – and that the independently run small-farmer cooperative receives assistance in organic and sustainable agriculture, pre-financing for their coffee, educational and infrastructure improvements.

We extend the notion of integrity when we buy green coffee.

Whenever possible, we buy Organic coffee. It is better coffee, both in terms of flavor and the social, environmental and physiological health of the communities where the coffee is grown and of the people who grow, care for and harvest the crop.

Similarly, we support the Fair Trade process and sell Fair Trade coffees.
We see current depressed coffee prices as a severe problem for the coffee industry as well as for coffee drinkers. The need to artificially boost income to coffee growers is one step in a long line of steps necessary to help a population that is being forced out of a way of life by arbitrarily low prices.

These low prices are determined not by quality, but simply by supply and demand for the entire industry. In this process, farmers in Colombia and Guatemala, and in Kenya and Sumatra, are paid only what the going rate IS, not what their coffee might be worth. Fair Trade provides coffee farmers with credit, increased income, education, and a sense of industry support at this time of special need.

Coffee Exchange is committed to finding sources of shade-grown coffee, grown without clear-cutting rain forest and preserving desperately needed habitat for many endangered species.