Beyond the Beans: Ensuring Ethical Sourcing in the Coffee Trade
Ottoman Coffeehouse sources its beans from roasters across the world, carefully selecting those who provide high-quality, specialty coffee. But beyond quality, the ethical side of sourcing is a major concern. Are all roasters ethical? Not necessarily. While many claim to work directly with farmers or pay fair prices, the reality can be murkier.
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing—What Does It Actually Mean?
Fair Trade certification is meant to ensure farmers receive a minimum price for their coffee, protecting them from market fluctuations. It also promotes better working conditions and sustainability. However, Fair Trade doesn’t always mean the farmer gets the best deal. Certification costs money, which small farms often can’t afford. Meanwhile, direct trade—where roasters build direct relationships with farms—can sometimes provide better pay and working conditions, even if the beans aren’t "Fair Trade" certified.
Is the Coffee Supply Chain Corrupt?
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, and like any high-value crop, it has its share of corruption. In some regions, especially in South America and Africa, organized crime and cartels control parts of the supply chain. Farmers can be pressured into selling at lower prices, middlemen take huge cuts, and corruption in certifications and auctions is not uncommon. This isn’t the case everywhere, but it’s a reality that ethical coffee buyers must be aware of.
How Can Ottoman Coffeehouse Ensure We’re Sourcing Ethically?
As a business that cares about quality and ethics, we need to go beyond labels and marketing claims. Here’s how we can do that:
Buy from Transparent Roasters – Work with roasters who can provide traceability. They should be able to tell us exactly which farms their beans come from, how much they paid, and what conditions the farmers work under.
Build Direct Relationships – As we expand into roasting, visiting farms ourselves will allow us to see conditions firsthand and ensure farmers are getting fair pay.
Look Beyond Certifications – Fair Trade is a good start, but sometimes direct trade or small co-operatives without certification are doing better work.
Ask the Hard Questions – When sourcing beans, we need to ask about wages, working conditions, and whether farmers own their land or are tied into exploitative contracts.
Support Co-Operatives & Small Farmers – Coffee co-ops help farmers retain more of their earnings and avoid predatory middlemen.
Ethical sourcing isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s about ensuring long-term sustainability for both coffee farmers and our business. If farmers can’t survive, the future of great coffee is at risk. Ottoman Coffeehouse has the opportunity to make a real impact by choosing where and how we source our beans.
