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This is a PSA: most roasters have amazing relationships with their partners who produce their coffee. As informative as the re:co talks were, it’s a shame that our industry continues to put spotlights on the negatives instead of the vast positives we’re accomplishing.
Definitely not saying we shouldn’t highlight negatives aspects in gatekeeper arenas. But it’s a shame that Twitter today has been filled with disdain for roasters. It’s worth noting how our supply chain works instead of demonizing one aspect of it.
The simple truth is most roasters wish they could give more money to producers. I agree that the conversation on how wealth is distributed is important. But so is the conversation of how it’s created. The conversation of paying more isn’t just on roasters...
It’s on everyone in the supply chain. How can we expect to pay producers more when we’re expected to only charge $10 a lb wholesale as roasters? Or when we only charge $1 per brewed coffee? This would’ve been a great opportunity to have that supply chain convo...
and the intricacy of how it works. Saying roasters should float the bill to enrich farmers isn’t just uninformed, it’s delusional. You can’t expect roasters to have a $2 a lb margin and survive. With no roasters, nobody buys those farmers coffees...
I understand the sermons at re:co today. They are important. But they need to have the reality of how the supply chain works attached to them. Otherwise it’s just another blog post written by someone on how roasters should operate when the author has never ran a roasting business
I’m not here to discredit any info given today. Most was great info. But I’d be happy to have a conversation with anyone on the limitations roasters have in finances. Here’s a free one, roasting machines cost around $50,000 plus or minus. Let’s talk gatekeeping on that?
Also, I want to turn a spotlight to Unity Coffee in Los Angeles. If you want to see a roaster doing the most responsible sourcing around I’d highly recommend picking Adams brain. I’ve learned so much from him and the way he purchases coffee for Unity.
Also, stop taking trips to origin just to take pictures. You’re annoying and we as a collective think you’re lame.
