Coffee doesn't grow itself
People grow it.
80% of coffee farmers don’t earn enough to live on. That has to change.
Coffee is often talked about through tasting notes, altitude and origin. The people growing it rarely get the same attention.
Around 80% of coffee farmers globally don’t earn enough to afford a decent standard of living. That affects families, communities and the long-term resilience of coffee farming itself. When farmers can’t earn enough from coffee, it becomes harder to invest in farms, support families or plan for the future.
For more than 30 years, we’ve bought directly from smallholder farmers and paid above market prices for coffee. Today, our commitment goes further.
As part of our Manifesto for the Future of Coffee, by 2030 every farmer we buy from will have the skills, support and power to earn more than a living income.
What is a living income?
A living income is the amount a household needs to earn to afford a decent standard of living in the place where they live.
That includes food, clean water, housing, healthcare, education, transport, clothing and enough left over for unexpected costs.
It’s measured at household level and includes income from all sources – not just coffee. And because the cost of living differs around the world, living income differs by country too.
Living income helps make coffee farming a viable livelihood – not a break-even activity.
What’s a Living Income Reference Price?
Living Income Reference Prices (LIRP) are benchmark prices designed to help farming households earn a living income from coffee.
They’re developed using local economic data and are specific to each coffee-growing country.
By 2030, we will pay at least Living Income Reference Prices for 100% of the coffee we buy directly from farming cooperatives, where those prices have been established.
We’ll continue paying additional premiums for things like Fairtrade and organic certification, while working with local experts to understand what a decent income looks like in each origin country.
How does this work alongside Fairtrade?
Fairtrade remains central to how we source coffee.
The Fairtrade Minimum Price acts as a safety net when market prices fall, helping protect farmers from volatility. On top of that, the Fairtrade Premium provides extra money for farming cooperatives to invest in things like education, infrastructure, climate resilience and community projects.
Living Income Reference Prices build on that foundation.
While the Fairtrade Minimum Price is based on the average cost of sustainable production, Living Income Reference Prices are based on what farming households need to earn for a decent standard of living in a particular place.
The two work together. Fairtrade creates protection and stability. Living income focuses on helping farming families earn enough to live well.
Fairtrade also matters because it’s farmer-led. Farmers and workers help shape standards, priorities and the direction of the movement itself. That producer voice matters to use because our business is built on long-term partnerships with farming cooperatives.
Why does living income matter?
When farming families earn enough, they can invest in their farms, improve quality, adapt to climate change and support the next generation.
Stable incomes also create stronger and more secure supply chains, helping farming communities plan ahead with greater confidence.
This matters beyond coffee too. Farming communities deserve the opportunity to build secure livelihoods, fulfil their potential and decide on their future.
Our commitments
By 2030:
- By 2030, we will pay at least living income reference prices for 100% of the coffee we buy direct from farming cooperatives
- By 2030, every farmer we buy from will have the skills, support, and power to earn more than a living income.
- By 2030, we’ll have got half of the UK’s coffee brands to show they pay a living income price for their coffee – and for the amount that makes a living income to be decided by relevant local people in each country.
Related Pages
Manifesto
Progress Reports
Certifications
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