When was the last time you visited a supermarket and came across a certification of some sort? The chances are very likely and as customers the world across have become more ethical so has the need for awareness and transparency of where products come from and how they’re produced.
Speciality coffee is by no means any different and if anything, what makes speciality coffee more special is the appreciation of the quality and care that goes into choosing a bean, how it is harvested and processed, how fresh it is and how it tastes. Certifications are an extension of this awareness that assure a level of care has been met by third parties and here’s a round up of the most common ones you need to know:
Fair trade is a well known organisation that aims to bring fairness to the workers who grow the things we love. There goal is very much people orientated around providing decent pay, living and work conditions for those in developing countries to ensure no one is being exploited for selfish needs and benefits.
The Rainforest alliance is a broad organisation which aims to tackle not just the social challenges of extreme poverty and human rights in developing countries, but also environmental challenges to reduce global warming, deforestation and preserve wildlife and nature.
Bird Friendly is a certifciation specific to coffee that ensures a natural habitat remains preserved where coffee is grown. They do this by as well as ensuring coffee is 100% organic bearing no risk to the environment and wildlife, also restrict coffee farms from clearing forest by ensuring trees are kept for high quality shade, benefiting both the bird life and coffee pickers finding shade in the high heat.
Organic is a general term but also a seal of approval used for all naturally grown vegetation and wild stock to ensure no pesticides or potentially damaging chemicals affect the environment nor eco system, not just for humans but wildlife alike.
UTZ is probably the least known certification but by no means makes it lesser a cause, which teaches and safeguards the path of sustainable farming with a goal to make it the norm. This not only secures a good living for those in the industry but also helps manage and maintain the worlds natural resources now and forever after. Rumors also suggest UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance are joining forces that can only mean good things for Mother Earth.
Hopefully this gives you more insight into the world of coffee certifications but although I’ve deemed these the most common please spare a thought for all the others out there all with good causes. I leave you now with my ultimate dream certification below in tribute to my child hood hero…….Captain Planet……the protector of all things Earthly.
Captain Planet (the dream certification):
