By Bob Kuehner
So, picture this: you wake up in the morning and decide to head over and see us. You know… it’s time for that nice caramel mocha latte, with an extra shot of espresso and your Spicy Shelly Breakfast croissant. You’re feeling daring, so you want extra “Feather Sauce” and pepper Jack cheese. You’re feeling great! It’s gonna be a great day, ‘specially when you get your coffee! BUT WAIT! Oh, no… Buyer’s Remorse! “Am I crazy!? Why the heck would I pay more for this stuff? I mean… Mickey D’s sells fancy coffee, right?”
To be clear, I want your money… wait… did I type that out loud? Anyway, I’m not trying to talk you out of buying our coffee! I love our coffee, want you to buy as much as the budget allows, and I just thought I’d take a sec and share why it costs more to buy it from Leaders’ Corner. I want you to know where your money is going and what it is paying for. So, let’s talk about the concept of, “Fair Trade.”
First, you should know that we have NOT specified to our roaster that we demand, “Fair Trade” certified. More on that in a sec.
Here’s my definition of the concept. Fair Trade is an ethical stance and practice that demands that we, as purchasers, work hard to ensure the extraordinary quality of the coffee we purchase while maintaining ethics and integrity in the deals struck with the farmers who grow it, the middlemen who broker and handle it, and the roasters who prepare it for use in our shop. It also requires that growers do so while ensuring sustainable environmental growing practices.
If you want to quit reading now, that’s exactly what I promise you… from the farmer in Columbia to the Happy Hippies who roasts it to our demanding specs in the hills of North East Tennessee, and then into your cup. Of course, if you’re a glutton for punishment, I’ll be glad to pontificate further!
I promised more on Fair Trade. Here you go. Fair Trade organizations were originally established to help develop, promote, maintain, and self-govern relationships between coffee bean farmers, distributors, roasters, and other parts of the supply chain for coffee.
If done correctly, the heart of the concept of Fair Trade demands more transparency in the production process, improved pay and working conditions for the farmers and distribution workers, sustainability in the treatment of our renewable resources and the planet, and more.
As we’ve discovered, attempting to make certain that the ONLY coffee we purchase and serve is ethically sourced, environmentally sustainable and fairly traded is surprisingly complex. Just like almost everything else that starts “clean” and “good,” politics, power grabs and posturing may corrupt just about anything. As far as “Fair Trade” goes, there are multiple certifying entities—and many of them don’t agree on what is or should be required for a company to be certified as, “Fair Trade.” In other words, A roaster or distribution company may be certified by one or more entities and not qualify for certification with others.
Our approach is to make this process dynamic, rather that static. We continually evaluate the products that we serve you and work our butts off to ensure that they are ethically sourced, environmentally sustainable, and fairly traded. The Happy Hippies we currently use to procure and roast our coffees are not certified as a “Fair Trade roastery” by any certifying entity; however, the ONLY coffee that we specify and purchase from them would be “Fair Trade certifiable,” by at least one of the many certifying entities. I love those guys, but If they slack off or decide to go the way of “less fair” but “more profit,” just like the Harley Davidson V-Rod Muscle I used to own, I’ll trade ‘em in for a better model.
Our mission, vision and values require that we always work to do, “the right thing.” You can read how we choose to apply this on that big rock out front… “We care for people, investing our lives into theirs for a return that pleases God.”
We insist that our roaster work with the highest quality suppliers, buying premium coffee. Those deals struck throughout the supply chain must be ethically sourced, environmentally sustainable, and they must elevate, empower—and pay a fair price to— the farmers, growers, and distribution employees. That stands in stark opposition to the system that’s existed for decades. You know… that’s the one that has reinforced the cycle of poverty that coffee growing communities have traditionally experienced for, well… ever.
Further, we will serve and drink ONLY coffee that we feel good about drinking, after we evaluate it carefully in the light of our mission.
So, my answer to the “buyer’s remorse voice?” “Why pay for your coffee at Leaders’ Corner?”
‘Cause you’re worth it, and so is the guy who worked so hard to get it into your cup.
Have questions regarding Fair Trade or our products in general? Feel free to ask in the comments below. Better yet, come by the shop! We’d love to hang out!
Bob Kuehner | Chief Servant & Storyteller
Leaders’ Corner Coffee & Tea, LLC
E:bob@leaderscorner.coffee
W: https://leaderscorner.coffee
M: +1 205.605.9415 | W: +1 205.620.1700
“We care for people, investing our lives into theirs
for a return that pleases God.”
