Monthly Archives: February 2010

17. Coffee with a view

2010-02-26 Comments Off on 17. Coffee with a view

I get paid – among other things – to travel to remote regions of the coffeelands to meet with farmers hear about their aspirations for their coffee and their families and do what I can to help them along the way. Every one of these visits is memorable in its way. But every once in a while, I get to visit places that are even more memorable than usual, like Tzampetey.

16. Corporate coffee philanthropy

2010-02-19 Comments Off on 16. Corporate coffee philanthropy

I have been closely watching the way coffee companies engage in the coffeelands over the past five years or so. Most fit neatly under one of the “3Ps” of coffee philanthropy: public relations, process and product improvements, and people-centered investment. (OK, really there are 4Ps.)

15. Two hopes for the future

2010-02-12 Comments Off on 15. Two hopes for the future

At a recent meeting of the CAFE Livelihoods project team, one member delivered a presentation on effective nursery management titled “Two hopes for the future.” The title was taken from a conversation with a group of farmers who say that their nurseries and their children represent their two hopes for the future of the community.

14. Coffee in Oaxaca: Cafe Brujula

2010-02-05 Comments Off on 14. Coffee in Oaxaca: Cafe Brujula

I am in Oaxaca this week — life is good. I came back to Oaxaca in late 2008 for the first time in more than 10 years, and to my very pleasant surprise found some very nice coffee shops, including Cafe Brujula.