The Dedication Behind Every Bean

Have you ever looked at a handful of coffee beans and wondered about the journey they took to reach your kitchen? In the latest episode of our Coffee 101 series, we explore the world of coffee farms and the incredible commitment required to produce a specialty crop.

A Living Ecosystem

A coffee farm is far more than just rows of trees. It is a delicate ecosystem where altitude, climate, and soil biodiversity must work in perfect harmony. Creating a specialty coffee farm is a collaborative effort between nature and the people who live and breathe the craft. On a large farm, it can take over one hundred people to handpick the cherries during a single season. This ensures that only the best fruit is selected, but it requires an immense level of dedication.

Specialty vs. Commodity: What is the Difference?

We often hear the term specialty coffee, but what does it actually mean for the farmer? For us at GRADA, specialty coffee is a way of life. It involves investing in technology, sustainability, and the well-being of the staff.

In contrast, commodity coffee is focused on quantity and affordability. While commodity coffee ensures that a cup is accessible to everyone, it often lacks the traceability and quality focus of specialty crops. We choose to invest in specialty coffee because we want to see this craft thrive for decades to come.

The Patience of the Harvest

Patience is a requirement for any coffee producer. A coffee tree takes two and a half years just to reach maturity. Even then, the trees do not produce a massive crop every year. Instead, they follow a cycle, with a high-yielding season usually followed by a lower one. Farmers must expertly manage their land, juggling different plots to ensure a consistent supply of quality beans.

In Brazil, our harvest season starts in May and runs all the way through to August. Whether the beans are handpicked or harvested with modern machinery, the goal remains the same: to respect the journey from the farm to your cup.

More Than a Product

Coffee is the third most consumed beverage in the world, yet it is often treated as a disposable commodity. By understanding the names and stories behind the harvest, we can move away from seeing coffee as just a product on a shelf. Instead, we can appreciate it as a ritual that connects us to people thousands of kilometres away.

Cheers to the farmers and the harvest that makes our morning ritual possible.