Fair Trade coffee

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H

Hayles

  • #1
    Hi

    We only use FairTrade tea and coffee in our catering business but have had a couple of complaints recently about the taste of the coffee.

    Does anyone use an instant FairTrade coffee (personal or business) that they'd recommend? We really don't want to go back to standard brands but part of our business is starting to suffer.

    Many thanks

    Hayles
     
    C

    creospace

  • #2
    If they are complainign then they would probably liek to think of themselves as coffee snobs, i like coffee a lot but i really cant tell an awful lot of difference between most brands unless it's a flavoured one.

    Could of been something in the water? Depends if it's individuals complaining or a group from one buffett?
     
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    J

    Jayne

  • #3
    Customer first, save the world second.

    I don't trust Supermarkets much Hayles, this fair trade is probably the rubbish stuff they need to shift and using this fair trade thing as a marketing gimmick.

    Jayne
     
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    W

    Whistle Ink

  • #5
    Do you only sell one brand of FairTrade coffee? Maybe a 'bad' batch?

    Like Gary I can't really tell the difference bewteen the brands and couldn;t really care less either what brand of coffee I was given. But if they are paying for it, can younot offer them both options or offer Fairtrade as a default unless they select otherwise or something?
     
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    C

    creospace

  • #6
    I don't trust Supermarkets much Hayles, this fair trade is probably the rubbish stuff they need to shift and using this fair trade thing as a marketing gimmick.
    Click to expand...

    Thats not true at all, it's got nothing to do with the supermarket. Fair trade coffee is identicle to normal brands if not better as the farmers get a fair price for their crop rather than gettting ripped off by the likes of nestle.

    You should do a little read up about fairtrade :)
     
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    H

    Hayles

  • #10
    We've tried a couple of FT brands and although I'm not a coffee drinker either, there is a difference in the taste.

    The comments have been from different people, using different coffee, so the bad batch idea doesnt' stand up unfortunately.

    (I think the reason people are just started to comment is because we've had the contract for a while now and people are more comfortable with passing on their thoughts!)

    Anyone found a really, really nice FT coffee?

    H
     
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    P

    PI Guy

  • #11
    I only buy frair trade coffee, I use Kenco Sustainabke Developement which is certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

    The water has a big impact on the taste of tea and coffee. For instance, those of you who take tea bags with you on holiday, you will notice a difference in the taste, this is due to the water.
     
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    H

    Hayles

  • #12
    Thanks for the link Jilly. Unfortunately they don't supply instant.

    We may have to consider 'proper' coffee for the meetings. Although this will cause transport problems (the building is very old and we have to take all the orders down some stairs, out the side of the building, back in again and then use a lift!).

    There must be a decent instant FT coffee out there somewhere :(

    H
     
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    D

    Dawg

  • #13
    Mrs Dawg swears by Nescafe Partners Blend


    FairTrade is a tricky area: a lot of "fairtrade" contracts have non mechanisation clauses in. This means that the poor coffee farmers will never be able to mechanise/grow/join the rest of the world. Odd really, as a way of 'helping'..
     
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    H

    hightide

  • #14
    cafe direct 5065

    a fairtrade specialist who has worked in the co-op's for years gave me the full spiel on this when he saw it in our office kitchen: it has been specified to the same taste and quality standard as Nescafe Cold Blend so is pitched at the premium level for instant coffee

    it's available in catering size tins, in decaff and regular

    for extra ethical brownie points, you can buy catering tins at larger oxfams, or most office supply companies have it now

    it tastes ace to be fair, as far as instant goes
    the other company based in our building swore they would not move form gold blend, so i blind tested them on this and they couldn't taste the difference

    that said, just because it has a premium taste doesn't mean everyone will like it.

    premiums tend to have a bit more of a caffeine hit, and some people may find that a touch harsh - e.g. if there more of a maxwell house type of person (my Mum doesn't like the coffee I serve at home...)

    so maybe it's not "coffee snobs" that don't like your coffee, but people who like "standard" coffee (coffee heathens I guess! lol!)

    Here's an interesting idea for you...

    If it is that some people prefer a mellower "low end" taste and if you can't find a coffee that has the smooth / mellow character and is fairtrade, you could buy a jar of maxwell house or something, and have it available, but charge them more - then pass that extra onto a charity that supports development in the areas that would have got your fairtrade cash.

    turns things on it's head nicely as 6 years ago or so coffee shops used to charge me 20p extra for the fair trade stuff!
     
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    K

    katelj

  • #16
    Hi All,

    I know this thread is old but hey, I've just joined and thought I'd drop a line!

    For me personally not only does fair trade taste so much better but it definitely eases my conscience. When setting up my business I did a lot of research and stumbled across a report (by Oxfam, I think - apologies, I'm unable to place the exact link at present) which was from 2005 and said that during 2003/2004 farmers were selling their coffee for approx $0.14 per kg with only $0.02 profit. By the time it arrived with the distributing companies it was worth a staggering $26.00 per kg. When you consider how labour intensive coffee farming is that should make everyone stop and think.

    Anyway - personal recommendations:-

    1. Percol fairtrade Colombian instant coffee.
    2. Fair Instant coffee (sorry to plug it but this can be found on my website).

    You can find both in most large supermarkets.

    Both taste great!

    Kate
     
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    Cred-X

    Cred-X

    Free Member
    May 16, 2007
    784
    65
  • #23
    I agree with Jorge that the water can make a tremendous difference.

    If you're worried about some customers not liking the taste of the FT coffee then could you offer a selection of different non-FT coffee too?
    Maybe get the complainers to help with research and try out some samples of the other coffees and get their opinions.
     
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  • #24
    The only time I have bought FT coffee was a jar of Co-op's own brand of FT instant stuff - it was lovely. Nice rich roast and decent strength. I dunno if there is actually much difference in brands, but I would definitely buy that one again. On good old Nescafe at the moment because a local store had in on a great offer (A couple more jars to go through before I need to look again).
     
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    W

    Watis

    Free Member
    Aug 7, 2007
    13
    1
    Buckinghamshire
  • #25
    Mrs Watis and I have enjoyed one of the leading brands of FT instant coffee for several years but recently the flavour changed - at the same time as the shape of the jar changed, as it happens. It had its own distinctive flavour, different to Gold Blend but just as good. The new flavour was bland yet bitter.

    We were so disappointed we sent a letter of complaint, along with a sample. We were advised there was nothing wrong with it. So now we're looking for another brand.

    Watis
     
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    C

    Coffee Man!

  • #26
    I have read with interest the comments in this forum as I am directly involved in the manufacture and supply of fairtrade coffee. I can confirm a few points for the doubters as I deal directly with the growers.

    Firstly farmers selling their coffee under fairtrade rules receive a minimum price that is higher than the market price and their communities receive a "social premium" for each lb of coffee sold. This is used by the community for the benefit of the community.

    Secondly there is absolutely no reason why a fairtrade coffee cannot taste much better than any other coffee - and a number of them do. As for Mr & Mrs Watis comments I can assure you that you are totally correct and over the past few months the "leading" fairtrade brand has changed its jar and its taste! If you look on the shelves of the bigger supermarkets you will see a new coffee "FAIR INSTANT" that is not only fairtrade but also donates 20p for each jat sold to Save the Children in order to fund education projects in Colombia.

    This product is better than the branded (non fairtrade) equivalent and costs only pennies more.

    I can also say that as a previous writer commented, the Co-op's product is excellent as is Marks & Spencer's instant coffee - and both of these companies own brand coffees are exclusively fairtrade.

    There is absolutely no need to compromise on quality with fairtrade and you can buy good quality at the same price as leading brands but also give more back to the farmers.:)
     
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    S

    .Spiralling.

  • #28
    Whittards do excellent coffee and all of their coffee is bought from the growers on fair trade principles.

    If people are complaining about the coffee why not try not using instant, which is always a poor substitute for ground coffee?

    As for the Nescafe coffee that was suggested - I don't think, whilst Nestle continue with the trading practices they have been criticised for for the last thirty years or so, that anything they produce could ever be described as ethical.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestlé_boycott
    http://www.mcspotlight.org/beyond/companies/nestle.html
    http://www.babymilkaction.org/action/fairtradeqs05analysis.html


    Nestle's unethical pursuits go far beyond aggressive marketing of artificial baby milk, and this link shows some of their other practices including exploitation, union-busting, pollution amongst other things.

    http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=240
     
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