what
we pay
for coffee
Coffee is bought and sold on the international market in the same way as oil (in fact it’s the second most traded commodity after oil). As coffee prices are volatile, the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) has established minimum guaranteed prices which cover growers' costs of production.
Fairtrade minimum prices are as follows:
• Arabica coffee: 131 US cents/lb
• Arabica organic coffee: 151 US cents/lb
• Robusta coffee: 111 US cents/lb
• Robusta organic coffee: 131 US cents/lb
Whenever the market price goes beyond these minimum prices, Fairtrade stipulates to pay the market price plus 5 US cents/lb premium. At Cafédirect, we go further: we take the market price and pay the growers this price plus an extra 10%.
Cafédirect also pays an additional premium for gourmet beans. This is even higher than the Fairtrade standards, as it rewards the additional work which goes into producing beans of the highest quality, which is reflected in the great taste of our coffees.
• Arabica gourmet coffee Cafédirect's minimum price: 146 US cents/lb
• Arabica gourmet organic coffee Cafédirect's minimum price: 161 US cents/lb
our unique trading model
At Cafédirect, 100% of our range of coffees, teas, and hot chocolates is Fairtrade. This means that they are all certified by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) and that we meet their criteria for paying a fair price to farmers.
In fact, at Cafédirect we go beyond the Fairtrade criteria and have a unique pricing structure for coffee, tea, and cocoa.
What’s more, our Gold Standard policy also ensures that a significant amount of our profits is reinvested into our Producer Partnership Programme (PPP).
From 2003 to 2006 we reinvested on average 60% of our profits in the businesses and communities of our grower partners through our PPP, which is over and above Fairtrade requirements.