As we embark on creating our next space David, BnG Owner and Main Brain, wanted to dig into the three pillars that drive our brand: Coffee Music and Community. What better day than, National Coffee Day, to present the second part in the series, on coffee and discuss our mission and the creation of Conscientious Coffee.
When Bump 'n Grind started in 2011, I knew that eventually I wanted us to get into sourcing and roasting coffee. I knew about the oppressive history of coffee, outlined in many books and articles, and wanted to be a part of community that was addressing those systemic issues. To that end, Bump 'n Grind started roasting in 2015 with the intent of providing what we define as: Conscientious Coffee.
Conscientious Coffee sometimes presents itself as certified coffee: Organic, Fair Trade, Rain Forest Alliance...BUT after talking with many small farmers we realized there is injustice and major hurdles to obtaining said certifications. Farmers spoke to exorbitant costs, corruption and a lack of transparency. They also spoke to many of the positive impacts they were doing in their communities - despite a lack of certification, that we felt were making a difference and deserved our support.
Examples include farms that work with conservation teams, protecting the environment as well as wildlife habitat for animals such as Jaguars. Other examples include farms that are providing money for schools and computers in their communities and Clean drinking water. Other examples are farms owned by Women. Historically the vast majority of coffee farms have been owned by Men. Data shows that women owned farms have resulted in more money making its way back into their communities, via higher wages, micro-loans and overall support.
Many coffee companies claim that their product is certified, but yet they only use a small amount of certified coffee in their blends. Green washing is an insidious practice and that is why we pledge that every bag of Bump 'n Grind only contains conscientious, ethically sourced coffee. We know that we are a small roaster, and our impact is small. However, making these issues known to our sourcing partners makes a difference and how each of us, from roasters to consumers, spend our money also makes a difference. We truly appreciate you supporting us on our journey and path to addressing the centuries of socio-economic injustices around coffee. Thank you for being the change you wish to see!