When good systems aren’t already in place, it’s your job to create them yourself. That’s what we believe at Brothers Coffee, and that’s a mission that has driven Kickapoo Coffee to create systems that help others. Like Larry’s Coffee, they are co-owners of Co-op Coffee, a coop co-owned by roasters all across the US that want to create direct trade relationships. In addition, the Fair Trade organization’s pricing charts haven’t been updated in years, so Kickapoo coffee is overhauling their entire system and creating new minimum prices that guarantee coffee farmers have enough to live on and a little more. In many cases, Kickapoo’s prices will be more than double Fair Trade prices.

Kickapoo is proof that roasters can have two focuses: great-tasting coffee and fairness to farmers. The idea that roasters can only go one way or another is a false dichotomy. They’ve been recognized by magazines such as Coffee Review and Roast Magazine, and one of their Ethiopia coffees has won so many Good Food Awards that it’s being called the Michael Phelps of coffee.

Kickapoo supports a number of non-profits through their 5% giving campaign. They donate 5% of their profits to organizations such as On the Ground, an organization working with Mayan communities to create clean water projects, as well as non-profits that help protect Wisconsin’s environment such as the Valley Stewardship Network and Vernon Trails.

We’re very excited to be able to work with Kickapoo coffee for our March shipment! If you’d like to give them a try, please head over to our pricing page to see which option works best for you.