10 Best Ethical Sustainable Coffee Brands
According to the National Coffee Association, 62% of Americans drink coffee every day. About 7 in 10 Americans drink coffee every week.
With that in mind, you can imagine switching to sustainable coffee brands could make a huge difference in the environment. It’s time we enjoy a hot cup of joe without making the earth hotter. Here is our list of the best sustainable coffee brands.
Related: Are Coffee Filters Compostable?
1. Larry’s Coffee
Larry’s Coffee is the home of delicious, 100% organic, and Fair Trade coffee. Their beans are roasted to perfection, bringing out the natural sweetness and rich flavor that coffee lovers crave.
They’re also proud to be an environmentally friendly company, sourcing coffee beans from shade-grown trees and using solar power to heat their headquarters. By purchasing exclusively Fair Trade beans, Larry’s Coffee empowers small farmers to receive a fair share of profits and build stronger communities.
2. Pachamama Coffee
Pachamama Coffee is a single-origin coffee brand. That means their coffee is from one specific region and that it meets the highest standards for organic farming.
They believe that coffee should be grown in a way that respects the environment and the people who grow it. Pachamama Coffee is a farmer-owned cooperative that’s grown by thousands of small-scale farmers in some of the most remote and beautiful regions of the world.
They only roast certified organic coffee, and all of their café beverages are made with organic ingredients. This commitment to quality means that every cup of Pachamama Coffee is packed with flavor and aroma.
3. Wonderstate Coffee
Wonderstate Coffee sources its coffee beans from certified organic producers, and its roastery is 100% solar-powered. Plus, they offset all of their wholesale shipping orders with carbon offsets.
So you can feel good knowing that your cup of coffee is helping to shrink your ecological footprint. And with their minimum price guarantee to farmers, you can be sure that the farmers who produce their coffee are being fairly compensated.
4. Wandering Bear Coffee
Wandering Bear Coffee is all about sourcing the best organic coffee beans from Peru, Mexico, and Nicaragua and roasting them to perfection. Their smooth, rich coffee can be customized however you like it, and they have cold brew on tap that’s perfect for on the go! Plus, their packaging is 100% recyclable.
5. Ethical Bean Coffee
Ethical Bean Coffee is a delicious, 100% Fair Trade certified, and environmentally friendly coffee. The coffee is also organic and free of harmful chemicals.
Their pods are made of 100% renewable, bio-based materials, and they break down in just a few weeks. They’re also proud to partner with Terracycle to collect empty coffee bags and recycle them into new products.
6. Grounds For Change
Grounds For Change is a Seattle-based coffee roasting business that takes pride in providing the freshest, most ethically and environmentally responsible coffee around. This family-owned company roasts its coffee in small batches to ensure optimum flavor.
They’re also Carbon-Free Certified, meaning that the complete carbon footprint of their business is offset with tree planting. Grounds For Change generously donate over 1% of its gross annual sales to the social and environmental organization, For The Planet. They also recycle all inbound freight pallets by donating them to local businesses for reuse.
7. Four Barrel Coffee
Four Barrel Coffee is an eco-friendly coffee brand that focuses on quality, transparency, and social responsibility. They’re a local, independently-owned business that operates two cafes in the Bay Area.
All of their coffee is sourced from third-generation farmers and mill-workers in Latin America, Indonesia, and East Africa. Their old-fashioned approach to roasting involves relying on highly trained people instead of computers to roast each batch by hand. This ensures that they maintain the integrity of their unique roasting style.
8. Dripkit
Dripkit allows you to make a piping hot cup of coffee in minutes using nothing more than a mug and some hot water. Their single-serve coffee pods are made from recycled paper, and their packaging is recyclable.
They also offset their carbon emissions. Dripkit’s unique pre-packaged roast is designed for quick and easy brewing, and since coffee never goes bad, you can enjoy a fresh cup any time you want.
9. TBD Coffee Co
TBD Coffee Co has a pledge to uphold four pillars when it comes to sourcing their coffee. They pledge to fair prices for farmers, ethical labor standards, Fair Trade products, and direct partnerships with small farms. The coffee is roasted after you place your order, so it’ll definitely be fresh.
10. Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange is more than just a business– it’s a mission. They’re dedicated to taking the steps needed in order to create a more equitable, democratic, and sustainable world.
They do this by sourcing from over 40 small farmer organizations around the world, developing innovative programs in collaboration with these farmers, and Fair Trade initiatives that benefit both farmers and consumers.
Their products are of the highest quality thanks to the close relationships we have with our farmers. These relationships allow them to secure the best crops while continuing to develop innovative programs that help farmers prosper.
When you choose to purchase coffee from a sustainable brand, you’re not just getting great coffee — you’re supporting a movement for change. So next time you need your caffeine fix, do your part by reaching for one of these brands.
