Fairtrade at UK Coffee Week and London Coffee Festival

The Fairtrade Foundation joined more than 250 coffee roasters, cafés and other exhibitors at this year’s London Coffee Festival that took place from 30 April to 3 May 2015. It showcased a selection of coffees that carry the Fairtrade mark and ensured that coffee-lovers know how Fairtrade benefits coffee farmers. Fairtrade coffee has been available for more than 20 years, but the quality has improved significantly in recent years and, in 2014, Fairtrade coffee won 14 Great Taste Awards. The beans in every cup can be traced back to a Fairtrade certified farmers’ co-operative, or to specific farmers for micro-lot coffee.

When farmers sell their coffee on Fairtrade terms, they earn at least the Fairtrade Minimum Price of US$1.40 per pound, or $1.70 per pound for organic coffee, which provides a vital safety net when market prices fall. Farmers also earn an additional Fairtrade Premium of 20 cents per pound. At least 25% of this (5 cents) must be invested to improve coffee quality, and the rest can be used to benefit their business and community, for example to build roads or health clinics.

The London Coffee Festival marked the official launch of UK Coffee Week taking place from 4 to 10 May 2015 - a fundraising initiative that celebrates British coffee culture and raises money for Project Waterfall, which brings clean water to coffee-growing communities around the world. Businesses that support the UK Coffee Week include Starbucks, which is currently celebrating five years of serving 100% Fairtrade espresso-based drinks in the UK & Europe, Middle East & Africa. It will donate 25p to Project Waterfall for every Fairtrade Flat White sold from 4 – 10 May. SOHO Coffee Co. and Esquires Coffee, which both source all their coffee on Fairtrade terms, are also supporting UK Coffee Week.  Selected branches of Esquires are selling badges with proceeds going to Project Waterfall. More information is available here.