Behind The Brew
Have you always wanted to know the back story of your favorite Saxbys coffee blend? Have you been itching to try a whole new roast but aren’t sure where to start? You’re in luck. Each month on the Saxbys blog, we’ll feature one of our beloved brews.
Our Finca Pitosi coffee stands out for a few reasons: It’s organic, it’s direct trade, and it’s the only brew on the Saxbys team that actually isn’t a blend. While lots of the coffees you love are actually blends of a few different beans (which helps them achieve a specific, consistent flavor profile), Finca Potosi is one type of bean from the Potosi coffee farm in Caicedonia, Colombia. Take a sip, and you’ll discover a medium/light roast with a floral fragrance, notes of lemon and vanilla, and a full body.
About this “direct trade” business: This means that our roaster works extensively with the Potosi farm (and pays the farm directly). This is a little different than fair trade, and in some ways a little bit better. In this instance, we trade directly with an independent farmer. In most fair trade coffee transactions, roasters trade with a cooperative of farmers. The cooperative deals with the money, and individual farmers rarely have a relationship with roasters. That means coffee farms rarely get feedback about their product, and roasters don’t work with farmers on best practices. The great thing about fair trade coffee is that farms receive a minimum wage for their product. The great thing about direct trade coffee is that farmers are paid directly (and well) and also work with the roasters to achieve the best possible cup of coffee. Most direct trade farmers are paid more as the quality of their coffee improves. One roasting company, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, made a super handy infographic that explains how fair trade and direct trade each work.
Because our Finca Potosi roast is direct trade, we’ve been able to learn a lot more about the 80-year-old Potosi farm. There’s a lot to love about the Pitosi farm besides their delicious coffee beans: They’ve been USDA-certified organic since 2006 and are extremely involved in their surrounding community in Colombia. They use their proceeds from the farm to donate school supplies and sports equipment.
So if you are all about all things organic, love light roasts, or are just into supporting a coffee farm, be sure to try Finca Potosi the next time it’s brewing at Saxbys.