Missing Bean
When sourcing our single origin coffee beans we strive to develop our own strong direct trade relationships. For those farms too remote for us to go directly to, we use independent green bean importers who value close long term partnerships between coffee growers and roasters.
Read more about some of our coffee sourcing trips below.
Buying direct means that farmers receive 100% of the costs for their goods, which results in a price that’s often far higher than fair trade
A direct partnership with farmers means that we can ensure sustainable production and ethical labour practices are being followed
Being in direct communication with the farms gives us more options when sourcing our beans and allows us access to unique coffees
2024 marks our 1st year of working directly with the Mantissa farm in Brazil. It's thanks to our good friend and former Beanie, Artur, that we have this amazing new opportunity. Artur visited the farm and immediately knew it was somewhere that ticked all the MB boxes. After then flying over...
2023 marks our 1st year of working directly with the Wildlife Reserve in El Jaguar, Nicaragua. This beautiful setting in the cloud-forest provides so much more than just coffee and has given us a fascinating insight into the fine art of maintaining the natural environment alongside utilising it for a...
2023 marks our 1st year of working directly with the beautiful Finca Hamburgo, Mexico. Thanks to a chance meeting back in 2015, Ori was able to forge a connection with Tomas Bruno which has since developed and evolved into a brand new direct-trade relationship for us at MB.
2023 marks our 3rd year of working directly with farms in Kenya. Thanks to This Side Up, we've been able to forge close relationships with farmers Gloria and Jane and their farms in the Sakami region.
2023 marks our 8th year of working directly with farms in Thailand. Thanks to our good friend, Fuadi, we've been able to forge close relationships with farms Doi Pangkhon, Doi Saket, and most recently Mae Chedi.
When Emilie arrived in Bujumbura, after hopping on a moto-taxi and a short trek through the mountains, she arrived at the crest of the hill, where Migoti have their washing station as well as small model farm. For the next few days, she was taught about all parts of the...
In February 2019, Missing Bean’s founder, Ori, escaped the UK winter to visit the Salazar family at their coffee farm El Calapo, in the lush foothills of the Andes. A year on we look back to that visit.
In summer 2016 Ori and his good friend Conrad went on a special sourcing trip to Peru. Trekking for days over the breathtaking landscape towards the Chilchos Valley, they gained a genuine feel for its remoteness and the efforts involved in accessing coffee in this region. Here they met Guillermo who has...
At Missing Bean, we take pride in sourcing Direct Trade Coffee Beans wherever possible, but what do we mean when we say Direct Trade Coffee Beans?
The answer is simple. Direct Trade Coffee Beans are sourced directly from the farmers, skipping any intermediaries. These coffees are purchased by us at rates that are at least 15% higher than fair-trade – and in most cases close to 100% higher.
We love having direct relationships with our farmers, because it enables us to give feedback on the quality of the coffee, keep track of how the money is being invested in the farming process, and most importantly, keep track of the wellbeing of the farmer.
When you buy Direct Trade Coffees, you can feel good about the fact that a bigger share of your money is going directly to the farmers.
We pay our farmers a large advance way before harvest, which gives them more security. And by having a relationship with us, they get to experience the final product and be proud of their produce.
The Fairtrade Minimum Price represents a formal safety net that prevents the producers from being forced to sell at too low a price when the market price is lower than FMP. It is a positive movement for a lot of products under the umbrella of the organisation.
In most cases, for example chocolate and bananas, the minimum price covers the producers’ average costs of production. But unfortunately, this is not the case for coffee because of the way it is farmed. The coffee goes through many processes which require a lot of time and attention from the farmer to get the best results from the crop. After the process is complete, the FMP hardly covers the cost of production and the farmer barely makes a profit.
With Direct Trade Coffee Beans, we pay higher prices directly to the farmers, which enables them to give their coffee beans the time and attention they need to produce the best tasting coffee, all while making a profit.
Our advance means Guillermo can invest in his processing methods and improve the quality of his coffee. Every year, he improves parts of the farm and his coffee gets better, more complex and scores higher every year. As the demand for his coffee has grown, he has involved more family members in the business.
“I want to thank all of you who buy our coffee. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We drink it everyday but without the income it generates we would struggle to make a living and protect our forests. Selling direct adds value to our coffee and allows us to improve our production but also secure vital medical support for our family in times of need. A thousand thank-yous.”
– Guillermo Cotrina
“The Missing Bean were one of our first Direct Trade clients, which was a breath of fresh air for us. It gave us hope that there was a future for the high quality coffee production business.
It feels good to know that our clients around the world value our coffee and are willing to pay more because of the quality, history, and social and environmental responsibility. And by knowing about the specific coffees that clients are interested in, we’re able to plan our harvest accordingly.”
– Santiago Salazar
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