Updates from our farms around the world

As featured in a recent BBC article the coffee world has been very tumultuous over the past few years. This has lead to a lot of uncertainty over the supply and therefore the cost of the beans available to traders and roasters to buy. We have covered the issues facing our farms many times over the past few years, whether it’s crop failures in Tanzania, labour cost increases in Brazil, or the lack of decaffeinated coffee that has been available for UK roasters to buy. 

Whilst we have been somewhat affected by all the issues facing the coffee world, we have also seen the fruits of years worth of relationship, building trust with the farmers we partner with. So here’s a brief update from each country that we work with.

Brazil

Athos and his family have been our Brazil partners for 15 years now.  They continue to bring us joy and amazing coffee.  On reflection of so many years working together it’s great to see the family and the farm prosper, but that is something they gladly pass on, as now Athos works to introduce us to other farmers and communities we can buy coffee from and support. Helinho and his Nascentes da Serra farm have become important to us, especially with the Arara varietal an awesome addition.  The Manaaim community are very special and it’s great to support such a rural group of smallholder farmers.  

Conversations have already started for this harvest and new coffee crops incoming before the end of the year. 

Arara – Brazil

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Nascentes Da Serra – Brazil

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Brazilian Vira Mao

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water decaf 225g grey bag

Water Process DECAF Decaffeinated Coffee – Brazil

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Cameroon

Conflict, weather, in-country logistics, shipping . . . . where do we start. For Matti and his fellow farmers it remains hugely challenging to produce, process and then ship coffee. The on-going conflict has obvious difficulties, but in addition the weather, with very high humidity in the shifting rainy season, means drying coffee is difficult and taking longer than usual. 

Then, if they can get their coffee to port then internal administration, coupled with global shipping complexities just adds to the overall problem.

Having cancelled a number of trips in recent years, we remain keen to visit soon but we are currently advised that “getting into the country and staying in the big city is fine, but kidnappings and threats are still very rampant in rural areas.”  So whilst we like an adventure, this seems unwise.

Nonetheless, we’ve committed again to support Matti and fellow farmers at a time when they need it more than ever, and in return we get great coffee.   

Matti encourages us (and humbles us) by saying “We depend on, and we are grateful to partners like Ethical Addictions. Together, we have built a strong foundation that will support strong and sustainable growth when this situation improves.”

Cameroon Oku

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Cameroon Boyo

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Colombia

Francisco continues to be a great partner in Colombia, not only for his farm La Primavera, but for his support to help us work with the community of Gacheta too. The consistent quality of coffee he produces and processes on his farm for us has become a staple here at the roastery. The new coffee trees at Gacheta should bear their first harvest next year which should give us some exciting new varietals to try.  

Geisha – Colombia Microlot

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Tabi – Colombia Microlot

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Pink Bourbon – Colombia Microlot

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Colombia La Primavera Finca

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Gacheta – Colombia

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Sugar Cane DECAF Decaffeinated Coffee – Colombia

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Tanzania

It’s here!!! The Houthi rebels in Yemen meant the boat had to go south around the cape of Africa and up the Atlantic coast. Add to that container and shipping geopolitical challenges and you get a loooooong journey.  But it’s here, we had our first cup of Mweka Mountain Top in months and it tastes amazing. 

Mountain Top Mweka

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Machare Kilimanjaro

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Uganda

The potential of this new origin for us remains so exciting, but equally frustrating to nail-down and get right the coffee and the relationship. Ian has been in and out of Uganda for nearly 25 years with community and charitable work, and yet still no coffee!  

The team at Zukuku Bora are the right fit for us with values and heart to support farmers and communities in Mount Elgon in the eastern region of Uganda. The quality of coffee is excellent, and there is a good variety of cherries and processes. 

The supply/demand challenges coupled with logistics remain a challenge, and so Ian and the team will be working on this in the coming months as this harvest gets picked and processed towards the end of this year.