Brewing Justice: Why Fair Trade Coffee Matters to All of Us

Walk into any café or scroll through your favorite coffee roaster’s online shop, and you’ll likely see the phrase Fair Trade Certified. Maybe you’ve wondered what that really means—or maybe you’ve chosen it intentionally, proud to support something bigger than your morning cup. 

At Ampersand Coffee Roasters, Fair Trade isn’t just a stamp on our bags. It was one of the founding standards behind our creation, sparked when our founder first asked himself: Where did my cup of coffee really come from? That question led to research, discovery, and eventually, to building Ampersand on a new foundation of curiosity, care, and responsibility. 

As our founder often says: 

“You can’t learn about coffee without understanding the persistent cycle of poverty that coffee growers are in.” – Founder of Ampersand Coffee Roasters 

Fair Trade became not just a business choice, but a cornerstone of who we are today. It’s a commitment, a promise, and a reminder that the choices we make at the checkout line ripple far beyond our own kitchens. 


What Fair Trade Really Means 

At its heart, Fair Trade is about dignity and fairness. For coffee farmers—many of whom are small producers working plots of land that have been in their families for generations—global coffee prices can be a gamble. When market rates fall, these farmers often earn less than it costs to produce their beans. That means tough choices: cutting back on food, delaying education for children, or abandoning traditional practices that protect their land. 

Fair Trade steps in to change that story. Certification ensures that farmers receive a minimum price for their coffee, even when global markets dip. It adds a Fair Trade premium that communities can invest in things like healthcare clinics, school programs, clean water projects, or better equipment. And it guarantees that labor is ethical—no child labor, no exploitation, no cutting corners at the expense of people’s well-being. 

In other words, Fair Trade is a safety net, but it’s also a ladder. It helps farming families not only survive but thrive. 


Why It Matters in Coffee 

Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world, second only to oil. Yet the people who grow it often live on razor-thin margins. When we brew our morning cup without thinking about where it came from, it’s easy to forget the millions of hands that made it possible—from planting and harvesting to drying, sorting, and shipping. 

Fair Trade brings transparency and accountability to an industry that too often hides the real costs of cheap coffee. It ensures that the value of a bag of beans is shared more equitably across the supply chain, and it uplifts farmers who are the true backbone of this industry. Without them, there would be no latte art, no cold brew craze, no cozy mornings wrapped in the smell of freshly ground beans. 


Why It’s Important to Ampersand 

From the very beginning, Ampersand Coffee Roasters was built with Fair Trade at its core. Unlike many roasters that offered only a single line of Fair Trade Organic coffee, our founder launched Ampersand as a 100% Fair Trade Organic company— a bold and rare move because it costs more.  

We were founded on the belief that great coffee should uplift everyone it touches, from the soil where it’s grown to the communities where it’s shared. That means focusing on focal points where change can snowball: women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability. Studies show that women in coffee often work harder, earn less, and invest more back into their families and communities. Supporting women farmers creates upward spirals of progress that ripple through entire regions. 

Today, our commitment continues to guide us. We partner with farms that are Fair Trade Certified, many of which also carry Regenerative Organic and Bird Friendly certifications. Supporting Fair Trade aligns with our core values: uplifting women farmers, protecting biodiversity, and investing in regenerative agricultural practices. It’s not just about selling coffee; it’s about creating lasting impact that begins at the farm level and reaches all the way to your cup. 

When you choose Ampersand, you’re not just choosing smooth chocolatey notes from Peru or bright citrus flavors from Ethiopia—you’re choosing to stand with farming families who are working hard to make a better life for themselves and their communities. 
 

Your Choices Matter 

Sometimes it’s easy to feel small when we think about global issues. What difference does one bag of coffee make? The truth: more than you think. Every purchase is a vote. When you choose Fair Trade, you’re voting for equity, for sustainability, for the belief that farmers deserve fair compensation for their craft. 

And it doesn’t stop with coffee. Fair Trade choices exist across many parts of our daily lives—tea, chocolate, bananas, sugar, clothing, even home goods. Imagine the ripple effect if everyone swapped just one of their weekly grocery or wardrobe items for a Fair Trade option. More children in school. More communities with clean water. More farmers and artisans able to reinvest in their futures instead of depleting them. 

As consumers, we hold power. Even the smallest daily ritual—like pouring that first cup of coffee—can connect us to something much larger. 

So next time you’re standing in front of a shelf of coffee, browsing produce, or shopping for clothes, pause for a second. Think about the people behind those items, the families and communities whose futures are shaped by the choices we make. Then, whenever possible, choose Fair Trade. 

At Ampersand, we’re honored to be part of this movement, and we’re grateful for every customer who walks with us on this journey. Together, we can make sure that every cup—and every purchase—is more than just a transaction. It’s an upward spiral: better for farmers, better for the planet, and better for all of us. 

Here’s to brewing better—for everyone.