Those Coffee People

As I've been exploring country-direct coffee, Those Coffee People is sort of the typical experience. Don't get me wrong - these folks are very professional. Just by the nature of their business, they're doing A LOT. That includes brokering green coffee, white-labeling coffee roasted in Colombia, and selling their own roasted beans. Sort of. It's not clear they're trying to sell them directly to consumers in the US. However, their samplers contain some fantastic, unique Colombian beans with all different types of varietals and processing. I recommend grabbing them if you are a Colombian coffee enthusiast.

Don't get me wrong; I love US, European, and other direct roasters with fair practices. For me, purchasing country-direct coffee is a choice that enhances your coffee experience and contributes positively to the global coffee community. When you buy country direct, you're directly supporting the economies of coffee-producing countries, ensuring that more of the profits stay within those communities. This approach helps empower local farmers, often leading to improved livelihoods and community development. Additionally, country-direct coffee often boasts superior quality, allowing for a closer relationship between the roaster and the coffee's origin, ensuring a higher standard of bean selection and processing. This direct line from producer to consumer also fosters greater transparency, allowing coffee lovers to appreciate the unique flavors and characteristics specific to each region's terroir. Moreover, engaging in this model will likely support more sustainable and ethical farming practices, as these direct relationships often involve a commitment to environmentally friendly methods and fair labor practices. /end soliloquy

-Ted Chan, Coffee Roast, Managing Editor