Crema Press' 2010

An increasing number of coffee lovers are not aware that their choice of coffee can impact thousands of people and nature in communities thousands of miles away.

There is an array of labels out there– each pledging to the consumer that their coffee is socially and environmentally responsible.

But how can you differentiate between fact and fiction? What do these labels actually mean for the farmers, workers and their families and the natural environment in these coffee growing regions?

Rogers Estate Coffees, the UK producer of gourmet coffee, has adopted its own standard: “Fairly Traded.” This program exceeds the goals of some labelling organisations such as Fair Trade and ensures that the workers who produce your coffee beans are given the payment they deserve. This is done through setting up long term contracts with single estate famers, which enable these coffee famers to treat their employees fairly, improve local ecosystems and make a decent profit.

Peter Rogers is our green coffee buyer who spends up to six months of each year visiting coffee farms; overseeing and supervising the coffee sourcing process.

Each year, Pete Rogers visits dozens of coffee farms – from Mexico to Rwanda - not only to ensure a source of the world’s finest Arabica coffee beans but also to see firsthand that the Rogers’ partner farms are meeting Roger’s standards for socially and environmentally responsible coffee production. He tours all of its partner farms as part of a 20-plus year commitment to permanently improve the quality of life for thousands of coffee farm workers and protect nature in the world’s premier coffee growing regions.

You may be wondering how Pete communicates with the coffee farmers? He is fluent in Spanish and culturally sensitive to the workers in the South American regions, enabling him to have a close working relationship with the Roger’s coffee famers and their workers.

Pete helped launch the Rogers Estate Coffees “Community Aid” program in 1986 when he vowed to address the “appalling” poverty he witnessed on his first trip to Guatemala to source coffee beans.

From its first small project – supplying pencils and paper to a struggling school – Community Aid now turns the company’s Fairly Traded coffee into houses, schools, medical clinics and food while focusing on education to break the cycle of poverty at farms in over 10 countries. Once described by a reporter as a “mini-Peace Corps,” a Community Aid program starts with paying farmers enough to ensure they meet the cost of production and then its contribution to the farm goes up.

Community Aid has completed hundreds of social and environmental projects, including modern houses as well as medical facilities, schools and day care centers for thousands of coffee farm workers and their families.

Community Aid also provides permanent educational programs and scholarships, doctors, nurses, teachers, food and clothing, clean drinking water and energy systems and also protects native plants and animals including endangered species.

To read more about the community aid programs take a look at the case studies here: http://www.rogersestatecoffees.co.uk/index.php?id=82

Rogers Estate Coffees have now extended their product range of San Francisco Bay “Fairly Traded” ground coffee which aids farmers and workers and protects nature in coffee growing regions - with the launch of three new products, and from 17th February customers can enjoy free delivery on all orders over £4.95.

The newly added San Francisco Bay products are:

• Columbian Supremo ground coffee - which is a world renowned, full bodied coffee with an almost sweet taste . The second addition for those who prefer decaf is a decaffeinated version!

• Espresso Roast ground coffee – which is a very rich full bodied coffee that is perfect for regular coffee or an espresso – a perfect choice for coffee lovers!

Falling on 16th February this year, Shrove Tuesday is almost upon us - giving the perfect excuse to make some yummy pancakes. Once more, this age-old tradition reminds us of just how delicious and versatile pancakes can be.

For those of you who love coffee and pancakes alike, Rogers Estate Coffees, the leading supplier of gourmet coffee, has put together a nice adaptation of a Tiramisu Pancake Recipe.

Simply add a teaspoon of one of their flavoured roasted ground coffees to the Tiramisu Pancake recipe below and enjoy.

Coffee bean prices are set to rise after what was deemed the worst harvest in 35 years by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO). Both Colombia and Brazil, the world’s leading coffee producing countries, have experienced a poor crop in the last year.

In Colombia, this year’s harvest was the worst since 1974, due to bad weather, and was the third straight off-year. The ICO predicts that the coffee for the next crop year, beginning September 30, could fall well short of the 9.5 million bags predicted.

Bloomberg news reported that the price of coffee has already increased in New York and there are speculations of a similar effect to the global coffee market. “Premiums are bound to increase,” ICO Executive Director Nestor Osorio told Bloomberg on Friday.

With the start of 2010 upon us it is the time when everyone wants to make changes and New Year’s resolutions.

Instead of the usual self centred promises that we never keep like “I will join a gym” or “I will take better care of my finances”, why not think about making smaller changes that will have a big impact on those around you, such as your work colleagues and customers?