A fair wage

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

Ethical Production

A direct partnership with farmers means that we can ensure sustainable production and ethical labour practices are being followed

Better Coffee

Being in direct communication with the farms gives us more options when sourcing our beans and allows us access to unique coffees

Direct Trade Coffee & Sourcing Trips

FAQs

What do we mean when we say Direct Trade Coffee Beans?

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. 

What are the benefits of buying Direct Trade Coffee Beans?

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. 

What is the difference between Fairtrade and Direct Trade Coffee Beans?

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. 

How have some of the coffee bean farmers that Missing Bean have worked with benefitted from selling Direct Trade Coffee Beans?

Peru - Chilchos Valley


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

Colombia - El Calapo

“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