The High Price of Cheap Coffee

26 million people around the world depend on coffee farming for their livelihood. It is extremely labor intensive work, with 1600 to 2400 trees per acre that must be picked by hand. Most coffee farming families live in dire poverty, without access to decent housing, clean water, education or health care. In some communities, it is common in the long months between harvests to eat only once every other day. That's the human cost of cheap coffee.

The environment also pays a high price for cheap coffee. Hybridized coffee plants bred to produce high volumes of low quality coffee can keep the price down while increasing a farmer's yield per acre, and thus his income. But those plants grow only in the sun, so in many parts of Central and South America the rainforest has been been clear-cut to accommodate them. By contrast, shade grown coffee plants thrive under the shade of the rainforest canopy and encourage biodiversity.

How can you help both the farmers and the environment? Here are several ways:

Fair Trade Certified Coffee
Fair Trade certification is designed to help small scale farmers who own their own land. It provides a guaranteed minimum price per pound, crop financing, and community development funds for projects such as schools, clinics and electrification. To participate, a farmer cannot own more than 2 hectares (approximately 5 acres) and must belong to a democratically run cooperative. This ensures participants a voice in business decisions, but may disqualify indigenous tribal farmers. There is no environmental certification included, but Fair Trade actively advocates organic and shade-grown farming.

Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee
60% of coffee farmers do not own the land they farm. Rainforest Alliance certification ensures these workers have fair wages, adequate housing, clean water, safe working conditions, and access to education, health care and recreational facilities. This certification also has an environmental component, requiring rainforest preservation, wildlife conservation and minimal use of agrochemicals.

Appreciate and Reward Quality
Neither Fair Trade nor Rainforest Alliance factor cup quality into the price equation.The models that do have many names but no rules and no third-party certification. Whether we call it "Direct Trade," "Relationship Coffee," or simple human decency, whether the roaster forms a close personal bond with the farmer or never meets him, we believe the important thing is not the travel logged but the price paid. Farmers who receive a premium for quality have an incentive to improve it. And a shot at feeding their families.

Cup of Excellence
This program auctions the finest coffees from selected countries -- chosen by professional panels of blind cuppers -- to the highest bidder. Availability is limited and prices are substantially higher than average.

Coffee Kids
This nonprofit organization works to improve the lives of coffee farming families in Latin America through programs in education, health awareness, microcredit and food security. Lexington Coffee Roasters has been a business member of Coffee Kids since 1991. In addition, we offer colorful burlap coffee bags from around the world for a $5 donation to Coffee Kids. (They're great for dorm decor, garden use, and 3-legged races!)

Cup for Education
This nonprofit organization helps coffee farming communities in Latin America build schools and assists them in providing teachers and school supplies. Lexington Coffee Roasters is proud to be a charter member.

Grounds for Health
This nonprofit organization works with coffee growing communities to establish sustainable prevention programs for cervical cancer, a leading cause of death among women in developing countries. Lexington Coffee Roasters is an annual donor, and co-owner Melissa Scholl is a former board member.