Crema Press' February, 2010

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.