Main Navigation

Main Navigation

Fair trade single origin coffee

Let's dial in on what it means (for you AND for farmers!).

What is single origin coffee?

At its simplest, single origin connotes that the green beans come from one place—but that begs the question, what are the parameters of place? And it's a particularly relevant question because place shapes flavor.

Much like wine connoisseurs wax poetic about terroir, coffee enthusiasts know that growing conditions like altitude and soil composition directly impact the flavor of the coffee beans. That's why some folks have a particular hankering for Costa Rican coffee whereas others have a soft spot from Sumatran beans. 

Why Fairtrade coffee?

In short, because farmer poverty should not subsidize our caffeine habit—and right now, it is. Did you know that it is not uncommon for coffee farmers to sell their green beans at a loss? The market positions them as price takers with little power to negotiate prices that reflect the full value of their crops. And the result of season after season of selling at a loss (especially amid rising input costs) is farmer poverty. That's not fair, and it's certainly not sustainable. That's why Fairtrade is doing coffee differently

What counts as fair trade single origin coffee?

The designation of "single origin coffee" can apply across a spectrum of granularity, from country to microlot. Let's explore some Fairtrade examples:

  • country: Trader Joe's offers a fair trade single origin coffee from Ethiopia.
  • region: Moka Origins roasts a fair trade single origin coffee from the Chiapas region of Mexico.
  • cooperative: Kaladi Coffee Roasters has been sourcing beans from the CECANOR cooperative in the Cajamarca region of Peru for more than 30 years for their Peru Cajamarca Andes Gold roast.
  • microlot: Gimme! Coffee sells a vibrant, fruit-forward roast (called Honduras Los Quetzales Natural) that comes very specifically from a microlot of the Sagastume family's Los Quetzales Estate, which is located at the base of national park in the Santa Bárbara region of Honduras. By virtue of being a microlot (that is, coffee from a specific, small tract of land), there’s never a huge quantity, so availability is seasonal. Savor it when it’s around!

Ready to shop? Explore fair trade single origin coffees by country.

The origin story of Fairtrade coffee

Our earlier organizational self was called the Max Havelaar Foundation. It was founded by Catholic bishops in the Netherlands who saw the connections between social change, political rights and economic development. In 1988, they launched the first fair trade label for sustainable coffee, and in 1989 fair trade coffee from Mexico was sold in Dutch supermarkets. Their timing was crucial because in 1989, global coffee prices collapsed—that is, prices dropped by 50%. And coffee prices continue to be incredibly volatile. Under Fairtrade terms, however, farmers can count on the Fairtrade Minimum Price. When the market offers higher prices, farmers receive them. But when the market drops, farmers have the buffer of a price floor to provide some stability in their operations. And the Mexican coffee cooperative where it all began (Union de Comunidades Indigenas de la Region del Istmo)? They're still Fairtrade partners more than three decades later.

A person's hand scoops green coffee beans into a basket.

We know your inbox is a busy place, and we work hard to make sure our newsletter is worth your time. Each month we share farmer stories and highlight Fairtrade products through giveaways, coupon codes and recipes.