Diversity

Climate change is already a reality and will significantly shape the future of the coffee industry. News from various coffee-producing countries and scientific research confirm this. The coffee industry faces pressing challenges: Arabica-growing regions are shrinking, and deforestation in mountainous areas must be halted. The delicate Arabica plant struggles to adapt to increasingly volatile and hot climates. In this game of cat and mouse between climate change and the development of new varieties, we need bolder solutions.

 

Coffea diversity

We believe that one promising approach lies in Canephora, also known as Robusta. Nearly half of the world’s coffee production has traditionally been viewed poorly, regarded as low-quality and unpalatable. This stigma has led to drastic cost-cutting in production and poor-quality yields, which have only reinforced its bad reputation. We aim to break this vicious cycle — and we’re not alone!

The Canephora industry is developing rapidly. Amazing qualities are emerging in Southeast Asia, which often do not reach Europe because the local specialty coffee scene already buys up these high-quality Robustas. The first specialty coffee roasters now offer 100% Robusta coffees, which are also appreciated in V60 or cold brew. Canephoras are increasingly being presented to the jury at coffee championships.

To promote appreciation and knowledge exchange about Canephora coffee, we launched the Canephorum in 2023. This mini-festival is entirely dedicated to Canephora. In workshops, cuppings, discussions, and keynotes, Canephora lovers from all over the world explore the secrets of this often-neglected coffee plant. The positive response to the first events makes us optimistic. Sustainability has never been as delicious as with Fine Robusta!

We are proud to be breaking new ground with our belief in fine Robusta. Vietnam, the world’s second-largest coffee producer, has long had a reputation for quantity over quality. Since 2020, we have been demonstrating with our premium coffees that Vietnamese Robusta producers can also deliver first-class quality. In addition, working with Fine Robusta in Peru and Panama gives us access to unique, exotic green coffees that we offer in our range.

Canephora is not a magic solution to all climate change-related problems in coffee, but its potential is enormous. It is already widely used, but has not yet received the necessary attention in terms of investment and research. In recent years, we have seen an increasing focus on Robusta. We support this movement wherever we can and say: Long live Canephora!

Indigenous Communities

Working with Indigenous communities is a delicate undertaking. We face complex challenges, including the protection of cultural heritage, the right to progress, the risk of “white saviorism,” and the romanticization of challenging living conditions.

Our central question is: How can Indigenous communities benefit from coffee production? The answer varies greatly depending on the context. For this sensitive work, we collaborate with local stakeholders, including government organizations, NGOs, industry partners, and research institutions.

Here is an overview of key Indigenous communities within our network:

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Place, Community Name
Peru, Satipo Yanesha The Yanesha live in the central rainforest of Peru and preserve traditional knowledge and customs, including in sustainable coffee cultivation. They are committed to preserving biodiversity and combine modern agricultural practices with their ancestral knowledge.
Peru, Lamas Quichwa The Quichwa of Lamas are known for their lively festivals and traditional crafts. They actively cultivate their linguistic and cultural heritage and integrate it into their agricultural practices, including the cultivation of organic coffee.
Vietnam, Gia Lai Jarai The Vietnamese Jarai are characterised by their matrilineal social structure. They are known for their elaborate burial rituals, traditional weaving and community-orientated life, which deeply influences their agricultural methods and cooperative farming systems.
Vietnam, Son La Taidam The Taidam from northern Vietnam are known for their complex textile skills and agricultural expertise. They grow various crops, including high-quality coffee, using ancient techniques that increase the fertility of the soil and preserve the ecological balance of the region.
Vietnam, Dak Lak Province Ede The Ede are an indigenous people in Vietnam’s central highlands who are heavily involved in local coffee cultivation. Their matrilineal culture transmits property and lineage through the female line, with women being socially central. The traditional longhouses (Nhà Dài) of the Ede extended families are characteristic. Nature spirits, ancestor worship and harvest rituals characterize their traditions to this day. The language and customs are still practised today despite increasing modernization.
Vietnam, Lang Biang K’Ho The K’Ho live around Lang Biang Mountain and are experts in combining agroforestry with traditional practices. They are custodians of the land and use organic farming methods for coffee cultivation, which helps to preserve the mountain’s unique flora and fauna. Their land is under threat from the flower industry, which is encroaching further and further into K’Ho Land.
D.R. Kongo, Kivu Region Pygmies The Pygmies of the Kivu region are among the oldest inhabitants of Africa and are known for their deep connection to the forest as hunter-gatherers. Their profound knowledge of the natural world informs sustainable practices that protect their cultural and ecological landscape. Since there is hardly any forest left on Idjwi, their pygmy lifestyle is hardly realisable anymore.
D.R. Kongo, Kivu Region Kihavu The Kihavu are known for their agricultural skills and cultural resilience in the Kivu region of the DR Congo. Despite ongoing conflicts, they continue to grow coffee, which plays a crucial role in the economic stability and social structure of their community.