Fair trade

Fair trade coffee - traditionally roasted in Echternach

As a specialized roastery for premium coffees, Mondo del Caffè places particular importance on maintaining the exceptionally high quality of its raw products (green coffee beans). At the same time, we consider ethical and social aspects in coffee production.

Instead of relying on grades or seals, we go directly to the farmers and buy our green coffee beans from them. We pay prices significantly above the world market level (approximately two to three times higher). In return, we demand the very best green coffee quality and adherence to our social standards from the producers. These include, among other things:

no child labor
Payment of fair wages for harvest workers and pickers
no exploitation
Biodiversity and the avoidance of unnecessary chemicals
and much more.

Everyone benefits! Our customers and connoisseurs – from the quality in the cup, Mondo del Caffè as a roastery – with unique and incomparable premium coffees that set us apart from other roasters, and the producers, farmers, harvest workers & pickers – through fair wages and appreciation of their work.

Fair trade coffee - traditionally roasted in Echternach

Learn more about our farmers and producers at the source

Discover our selection of fair trade coffees and espressos

Why didn't we use the Fairtrade label?

We often hear the questions: "Why don't you use the Fair Trade label?" and "What does the Fair Trade label from Mondo del Caffè mean?" The reason we don't use the Fair Trade label is simple:

The Fairtrade criteria have nothing to do with quality – we see them more as minimum standards for industry and discount retailers. If a Fairtrade-labeled product meets our expectations and this can be transparently verified, we give it preference! Unfortunately, this is rarely the case at present.

As an example regarding the Fairtrade label / in relation to coffee:

Currently, 498 grams of green coffee beans cost the minimum Fairtrade price of US$1.80 (approximately €1.55). Therefore, one kilogram of green coffee costs €3.16. This represents a surcharge of €0.10–€0.25 to obtain the Fairtrade certification. This money goes to the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO).

As a direct import coffee roastery, we find several things objectionable about this approach – but two in particular:

A price of €3.16 per kg of green coffee has nothing to do with fair trade when you know that at least twice that amount has to be paid for the farmer to make ends meet. After all, his work at the source creates the very foundation for the roastery's existence. Sustainable farming is practically impossible for the farmer under these conditions.
What actually happens to the money paid for Fairtrade or other labels? There's no transparent documentation. Does it go to FLO? To the cooperative? How much of it actually reaches the farmers?

The various labels like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, or UTZ, etc., are better than doing nothing at all. We want to make that perfectly clear! And they are perhaps a good starting point for demonstrating that the entire coffee industry has a great need for social responsibility and sustainability. One merit of the Fair Trade label is that it provides a safety net for price stability. For example, with coffee, Fair Trade was the first to consider the earnings of farmers and pickers in the 1970s. Rainforest Alliance was the first to raise public awareness about the sustainable cultivation of coffee.

However, the measures required for these labels have too little impact on the lives of coffee producers in the countries of origin, in our opinion. They simply don't go far enough!

For this reason, at Mondo del Caffè we prefer to buy our coffee directly from the farmers in the countries of origin (Ethiopia, Brazil, India, Colombia, or El Salvador). We travel to the farmers, pay them directly, build infrastructure together, and jointly monitor quality. This is similar to how wine is produced in Germany. On average, we pay slightly more than double – three times – the Fair Trade minimum price for our green coffee beans. However, we do this with a clear conscience, considering the exceptional quality of the green coffee beans we work with and ensuring our customers know they are purchasing a truly fair and high-quality product.

Fair trade coffee / Mondo del Caffè

We visit coffee farmers directly in their country of origin. We carefully select partners there with whom we want to work. We discuss our requirements with them – both regarding the quality of the green coffee and ethical principles.

Most coffee comes from countries where people live well below the poverty line. Only fair wages can ensure that infrastructure is maintained or created, that harvest workers do not suffer under dangerous working conditions, and that they can provide a better future for their children.

Thanks to you, as a customer of Mondo del Caffè, we achieve a successful and future-oriented cooperation for all parties. The farmers supply top-quality green coffees, and we offer expertise and fair payment.

At Mondo del Caffè, we want consumers to think more about where their coffee comes from and how it makes its way into their cup. Only when coffee has a face for the end consumer will they truly appreciate all the work and effort that goes into their favorite beverage! This applies not only to coffee but to food in general. We want to raise awareness and we would like to walk this path with you – if you wish.

Mondo del Caffè is the winner of the Coffee Innovations Award 2014 (Sustainability category)

Mondo del Caffè and its project partners are nationwide winners of the Coffee Innovations Award 2014! Our direct import concept, which forms the basis of Trier's city coffee , impressed both the expert jury and the online audience. Our project garnered over 80% of the votes cast!

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our project partners, the World Shop and the local Agenda 21, and are delighted to receive this award. We see it as an incentive to go even further. Together with you, we will work towards sustainable and fair trade.