Explore the future of sustainable coffee
Discover roasters at the frontier of sustainable, innovative, and equitable practices
The challenges facing coffee
50% of coffee-growing lands globally are at risk of disappearing by 2050 due to a combination of factors
Deforestation
Deforestation and land-use changes are reducing the land available for coffee cultivation, already stressed by climate change
Climate change
Extreme weather and rising temperatures threaten coffee yields, especially for Arabica, the most widely consumed species
Unequal value distribution
In the current supply chain, intermediaries extract significant value, leaving farmers with minimal revenue
The positive impact roasters can have
Roasters are the tip of the spear in influencing and implementing forward-thinking practices that will help protect the future of coffee
Sustainable practices
Roasters are adopting sustainable sourcing, packaging, and roasting methods to reduce waste and energy use
Innovation
Innovative agricultural practices, trade models, and roasting technologies are strengthening coffee's resilience
Equity
Fair pricing and long-term partnerships with farmers help invest in coffee-growing communities
Find coffee roasters making a difference
Browse our roaster profiles to find leaders in sustainable, innovative, and equitable practices
Mission
Commitment to conservation through donations and certifications
Transparency
Clear coffee sourcing information and cost transparency
Roaster features
Eco-friendly roasting equipment designed to minimize emissions
Packaging features
Sustainable packaging solutions aimed at waste reduction
Coffee features
Coffees certified for environmental and agricultural standards
Trade features
Equitable trade models ensuring fair compensation for farmers
Roaster Profile FAQs
In our Roaster Profiles, our set of criteria is the result of extensive research into certifications, practices, pledges, and partnerships that positively reflect a roaster’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and equity in specialty coffee.
No. We do not weight or endorse one attribute over another. Our criteria are expressed as yes/no toggles (a roaster possesses the attribute or it doesn’t) or percentages (what percentage of a roaster’s single origins possesses an attribute).
In general, any specialty roaster who 1) roasts in-house under their own brand and 2) sells that roasted whole-bean coffee nation-wide through an online shop. However, we reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to exclude or remove any roaster for any reason.
No. Our roaster profiles are generated from publicly available information and are intended to help consumers decide where to buy their coffee from. If any information we have on your profile is incorrect or incomplete, we will gladly update it upon verification.
We display “date assessed” next to each profile, which is the date we surveyed the roaster’s online shop. A roaster’s specific single origin lineup can change frequently, and that lineup might have changed from the date we surveyed the roaster’s offerings, and the date you view the profile. The other profile criteria might change over time as well, but any changes would not be as frequent as changes in origins. A roaster’s overall approach to sustainability, equity, and innovation will be captured in our profile, even if some time has elapsed since our survey of their site.
What does innovation in coffee look like?
Pushing traditional boundaries on origin selection, taste profiles, processing methods, trade models, and roasting technology are all ways roasters can exhibit their innovation
