107 E. COLLEGE AVE. APPLETON, WI 54911 920*882*9336
What Is Fair Trade?Fair Trade is an international, consumer-driven movement to guarantee that small-scale farmers in developing countries receive a "fair" price for their product. In order to sell through the Fair Trade market, the producers must belong to democratically organized cooperation's that are certified by an independent organization based in Germany. Although it has widespread appeal in many Western European countries, Fair Trade did not take root in the U.S. until the late 1990s with the establishment of TransFair USA
Rainforest AllianceRainforest Alliance
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Making A Good CupKEEPING COFFEE FRESH Coffee tastes best when consumed within a month of roasting. Our coffee comes from Alterra Coffee Roasters located in Milwaukee. Coffee beans are roasted daily and shipped to our shop two days after being roasted. Coffee that is exposed to the air starts to lose its delicate aromas and the flavor oils begin to stale. Supermarket brands can sit on the shelves from months to years. STORING YOUR COFFEE Never keep your coffee in the refrigerator or freezer because the coffee will absorb the odors that are in there…yummy, onion flavored coffee. Refrigeration also causes condensation on the coffee, causing the flavor to deteriorate rapidly. Buy only enough coffee to last a week or two and keep it in an airtight, opaque container. BREWING COFFEE GRINDING - It is best to grind coffee right before brewing. Use the right grind; fine for espresso, medium for drip coffee, coarse for French press - the shorter the brew time, the finer the grind. A good grinder is a more important investment than an electric coffeemaker. We recommend burr grinders, which provide the consistent grind required for a great cup of coffee. FILTERS - The most common paper filters are chemically-bleached white filters, which tend to impart a disagreeable “bleachy” flavor. The natural, brown filters contribute a woody flavor. Oxygen-bleached filters have no resin or other impurities to taint the flavor of the coffee, and are also better for the environment. WATER - Coffee is 98 percent water. Try filtered or spring water if you don’t like the taste of your tap water. Avoid distilled water as it lacks essential minerals that enhance coffee flavor. COFFEE MAKERS A coffeemaker that brews slowly allows the fullest flavor to come out in the beans (between 4 and 7 minutes). We recommend that you look for a 1,000-watt coffeemaker. Use 2 heaping tablespoons of ground coffee for every 8 oz. Of water. When the coffee is done brewing, take it off the burner. Burners literally “burn” coffee -leaving it sour or bitter. Transfer fresh coffee to an insulated carafe, which will keep it at its brew temperature for about one hour. Once coffee has cooled, its chemistry has changed, allowing the bitter oil and flavors to dominate the taste. Reheating the coffee will further break down the few aromatics left, giving you a bad-tasting coffee. |
As
the sole certifying agency in the U.S. , TransFair grants
licenses to coffee importers and roasters and works to increase
awareness of Fair Trade at the consumer level. The offering of
Fair Trade Certified products in the U.S. has expanded from
specialty coffee to include tea, chocolate and several types of
fruit, all of which are designated with a black-and-white logo
showing a human form. 
This
non-profit organization, based in New york city, has developed a
program to promote eco-friendly agriculture in developing
countries. Whereas Fair Trade addresses human socioeconomic
issues, Rainforest Alliance's focus is on environmental
protection. Another major difference is that Rainforest
Alliance allows larger-scale producers, such as estates and
plantations, to participate. They do not necessarily need to be
certified organic as well, although some are. Alterra's two
Rainforest Alliance-certified coffees - Guatemalan Oriflama
Estate and Organic Colombian Mesa de los Santos - can be
recognized by their small green and white seal, which features a
frog.