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Found out the latest news from the world of Ethical Addictions.

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Origin Report: Colombia

It was just so good to be back on the road again, back travelling after two years of lock-down, not allowed to travel, with limited communication overseas, especially with the smaller villages and more rural communities.

We spent some of lock-down reaching out and exploring new potential connections in new origins for us. So back on a plane in May our first stop was in Colombia, one of the most famous origins for coffee, of course, incredible countryside, super-high altitude (which is good for Arabica coffee) and generations of vast experience in coffee farming.

We met with Angela, a farmer only an hour or so from the capital, Bogotá, and then flew to Armenia, Quindio, a well-known region of coffee in the country, to spend time with Felipe and his family, who not only farm themselves, but also work regionally with dozens of small family fincas (farms) helping them improve their coffee and have a better route to market, reaping higher rewards for their hard work.

We had the privilege of drinking coffee as high as 2,000masl with Cesar and his family after a hike (‘hike’: slip/slide/fall in torrential rain!) around his farm to see different varietals and his organic methods of growing on very steep slopes in the middle of wild rainforests and beautiful scenery as far as the eye could see. They were a beautiful family, living a simple life, but a thankful life – a real highlight of the trip.

We also got to cup and experience some of the new processes of fermentation and infusions that some farmers are experimenting with to try and draw out different flavours, acidity and more to. This was good to understand more fully by seeing these processes first-hand, but also to cup so many different varietals and fermentations and make comparisons. Particularly fruit flavours from the natural coffee is accented through fermentation. 

But Colombia washed coffees are well-known, and appreciated worldwide, so we also got to cup plenty of these with smooth notes of sweet chocolate, and caramel.

Colombia 2022 Coffee Taste Testing

But of course, as you know for EA it is not just about how good the coffee is, it’s the story behind it, the family who grow it, their care for the environment, how they farm, and further how we can help in any way, obviously paying well for the care and hard work, but also looking to invest in developing their farm or in social projects in the wider community. So these were the opportunities we were seeking out – who should we be working with long-term that will match our ethos to marry exceptional coffee with care for the environment and improving lives in coffee growing communities.

We believe business can be such a powerful tool for good, to help everyone along the trading chain to not only live a better standard of living, but a more sustainable improved lifestyle.

Two stand-out moments for Jack & Ian were meeting with Angela and the conneciton made of matched values and passions that we now hope will develop into tangible business long-term, and impact with farmers.  And secondly visitng Finca Esmerelda, with Ceasar and his family – thankful every day they wake up in the surroundings they live in and the people they have around them. Just thankful for all they have.

We have nothing nailed-down as a direct trade connection (yet) but really positive options, that match for us, and we’ll be exploring these for a permanent, sustainable model of trade for good coffee and social investment over the next few months. It’ll probably need another trip to secure it (oh well!).  Lots of options, lots to be decided.

Of course we saw the farm, Casa Negra, where our Colombian coffee currently comes from. And moving forward in the short-term we will be working through partners to bring excellent Colombian coffee to our roastery for customers to enjoy, and some guests from small family farms that offer a taste of Colombia and the variety it has to offer.

We press ahead with EA’s passion and model to work as directly as possible with farmers and communities where we can secure great coffee and maximum impact by doing good business this way.

We left tired and happy, reflecting on the value of relationships in our global community, but also how precarious our environment is. How precarious the coffee world is and prices so volatile from crop yields, environment and weather, before global crises, demand, transport complications, currency and market changes even get involved. More on that later.

On to Brazil . . . 
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3DS Secure – new online card security protocols

Extra security when you’re buying online

From March 14, retailers must check that it is you making the payment before they take money from your card as new changes to bank card transactions come into force.

The changes come as part of the new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fraud-prevention rules, known as ‘Strong Customer Authentication (SCA).

But don’t worry, we’ve planned ahead and it’s already in place on our website, in collaboration with our card processor. You may have even already noticed we are using ‘3D Secure’ (3DS) technology to verify it’s you using the card when you’re buying things online. 3DS is a standard many card providers are now using to reduce e-commerce fraud.

For the vast majority of customers buying coffee on our website there will be no issues at all, the transaction will go ahead exactly as before although some customers will face an added step to the checkout process when buying online.

If there is a problem and security information does not match then the payment could be declined if the transaction cannot be verified as being genuine.

Any problems online, questions or concerns just get in touch.

01452 308774
hello@eacoffee.co.uk

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UPDATE ON CUPS, LIDS & TAKEAWAY ITEMS

Due to ongoing increases in material and operational costs that have been passed on to us, we are again left with no alternative but to make price rises on certain products.

We are really frustrated by this, but equally sympathetic given our own firsthand knowledge of the shipping and logistics issues globally at the moment we have to navigate with coffee.

So, regrettably there are more price rises this month on takeaway items.  Please note we are holding our margin and simply passing on increases from suppliers. We have searched the market for other suppliers and negotiated prices so again be assured we’re doing all we can for you.

We also want to assure you that both us and our cup suppliers have every intention to reduce prices again as soon as possible.  
In the meantime it does represent a great opportunity to encourage customers to use reusable cups and/or follow the many coffee shops that are now charging a premium on menu price for a disposable cup.

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PRICE CHANGES

A perfect storm of global and local issues along with uncertainty have forced a price increase as of December 1st, 2021.

We do not believe in rising prices for the sake of it, in fact we haven’t done any coffee price rises since 2017.

Everyone is aware from news stories week-in-week-out that there are significant on-going problems with our supply chains in the UK, including delays on imported goods and huge price increases on shipping and shipping containers. Coupled with growing demand this has forced prices up sharply.

You have probably already had price increases and whilst until now we have been able to absorb most of them, particularly coffee prices since we buy our coffee in such a unique way our crops are secure for a whole year and not price sensitive month-by-month.

However, with the new crops due in now and shipping costs particularly very high (container prices are up about six-fold!) we unfortunately have to face the reality of passing some of these increasing costs on.

The price of coffee, packaging and almost everything has risen rapidly since the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition, Brazil, the largest world producer of coffee had a late frost and therefore destroying a significant proportion of the crop, in turn affecting coffee prices globally. It is well documented that, as the climate crisis worsens, extreme weather occurrences will only get more frequent, and their effects will be far-reaching.

More locally here in the UK, driver shortages, gas prices, wages and inflation have led to increased roasting, packing and shipping costs too.

As such coffee prices need to go up to cover these rising costs. Other items are simply price increases passed on from our suppliers of cups, hot chocolate, tea, etc.

We are committed to close working relationships with all of you, and value not only your business but your friendship too. As such this is a very reluctant move by us, but please note we haven’t increased coffee prices since 2017, and even these price increases in a coffee shop will represent only about 2p per cup of coffee, something we hope you can easily offset by modest menu price changes yourselves. 

 

UPDATE Jan 2022: BBC News Article on inflation

Inflation: Seven reasons the cost of living is going up around the world – BBC News

 

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Goodbye 2020 – Hello 2021!

Reflections on 2020?

Table of Contents

“It was tough, but we’re OK!”

2020 was a difficult year emotionally, mentally and financially. Within the space of a few days in March, due to Covid-19 and the National Lockdown, we lost around 90% of our customers. Our immediate hopes, thoughts and prayers at the time was to keep everyone’s jobs (which thankfully we’ve managed to do) and to look after the farmers overseas.  We have kept providing high quality service to our customers, honoured agreements to buy crops overseas and set ourselves up to go again this year. 

We spent time and energy on our new website, which we launched in June. It looks great, functions well and has allowed us to add additional products for customers, such as coffee subscriptions. Later in the year we launched the “a taste of” series. This has had fantastic reactions from our customers (old and new) and provided another way to introduce people to our coffee, with the option to give as a gift to a friend. 

During the various lock-downs, we had time to reflect on our business and see what changes we wanted to make such as adjustments to packaging and processes. 

The time to reflect has made us incredibly thankful for what we have got and has reminded us of the difference Ethical Addictions as a business makes to those it works with.

Supporting our Community

Prepping food hampers at Roots Cafe, Gloucester

Our heart as a business has always been to help others where we can. One thing a quieter year gave us was time here as staff to help others in need and to volunteer in our local communities. Locally in Gloucestershire, we got involved in food projects, where we helped set up food kitchens and delivered meals to vulnerable families and isolating individuals. It was good to be connected to our local community and be able to make a difference.

How have the farmers been impacted by Covid-19?

A lot of our farmers certainly in the early part of 2020 were unaffected on a personal level as they live in incredibly remote locations. 

As of now, Covid-19 has reached most of the rural parts, but in relatively small numbers. They seem to be pretty active in isolating the infected, helping to limit its spread. Machado, a small town in central Brazil has had very few cases. The villages in Jacutinga and Mweka at last contact had no cases so far.

So now in 2021 it’s about how we can honour the contracts and the crops that they are harvesting and assuring them that we are sticking with them for the long term.

Planning for 2021

(as best you can in a global pandemic!)

One of the things we have really missed this year was visiting all the farms we work with and catching up with the farmers we’ve known for years. We’re itching to get back on a plane and go and visit, particularly the most rural, small villages who we don’t have email and phone contact with. We want to reassure them that we will continue to work with and support them. 

We’ve been doing this for 14 years now. We have long standing relationships and they know we will be around. We have had crises before and supported them through. They know we are in it for the long term but I want to be able to reassure them face to face. That kind of connection is really important to me.

We still want to get out to Cameroon but have been struggling for years because of the civil war there. We are also looking at sourcing new coffee from around the world – after guesting a great Colombian coffee we want to develop a full direct trade relationship there.

Last year our plans to move were put on hold. If all goes well our big hope is that this year we can get the roastery to a new building. We want to expand, put a training kitchen in, have a bigger roastery and production and make things easier for visitors.

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“We have long standing relationships [with farmers] and they know we will be around. We have had crises before and supported them through. They know we are in it for the long term but I want to be able to reassure them face to face. That kind of connection is really important to me.”

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Prices remaining the same

You will be glad to know that we will not be increasing our coffee prices which have stayed the same since 2017. We have decided to absorb any additional costs to ensure we are all healthier for the long term. We are honouring the relationships with our farmers and paying them the full premium rate for their coffee.

Unfortunately we cannot make any promises on other products like tea and hot chocolate because it depends on our suppliers.

Projects

We want to look at new projects. Even though we have been hit financially this year, we still believe in giving out of what we have got and not just waiting until we can afford to be generous.

Guest Coffees

The other really exciting thing about 2021 is that we have some guest coffees arriving through contacts in the coffee industry. We know of some situations where people are struggling so we will be buying a few bags to help out. We have some coming very soon from Rwanda.

We’ve got our raised bed project coming out of Jacutinga, Brazil which we are really excited about. It’s high grade Arabica coffee with hints of mango which will be very special.

best coffee subscription uk | roasters choice
Guest Coffees 2021

Summary

If I was to sum up this article it would be to say that you never know what is going to happen in life but my mental health is always better when I try to find the positive in it and learn to be grateful for what I do have. 

There is a lot I am grateful for, lots to look forward to and lots of exciting things happening in 2021.

Ian is the founder and head bean at Ethical Addictions. He describes himself as a husband, father, friend DIY enthusiast and coffee lover.
Ian Meredith Profile Picture
Ian Meredith
Head Bean
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COVID-19 Response

NOVEMBER UPDATE

We continue to deep clean regularly and as a ‘food manufacturer’ are permitted to carry on during this new lockdown.  If you visit the roastery to collect coffee please observe social distancing rules and wear a mask.  At-home customers can order online for collection or delivery.  Wholesale customers we can maintain roasting and delivery to still serve you if you are operating a take-away service to carry on business during this month.

 

–Announcement: March 16th 2020–

Ultimately our response is to be well-informed and follow government and health advice as necessary.

We are also aware this is a rapidly changing situation and any plans are subject to change at very short notice.

Most of what we have discussed in-house is common sense (and we are doing anyway) however for reassurance of our customers please note the following:
> We are being extra vigilant hand-washing and cleaning at roastery.
> We have plans in place to work from home if necessary (this may make some delays with shipping).
> If we have to close we intend to give notice to customers to place orders (however this may not be something in our control).

Until circumstances change it is business as usual.

Stay safe, keep calm, and please look out for those more vulnerable than yourself in you neighbourhood.

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Newsletters: Archive (2009 – 2018)

The News Shot is our “readers digest”. A one page update on what we get up to throughout the year in a pdf format. Below are the archives ranging from 2009 – 2018. 

Click on one of the compendiums below to see the journey we’ve taken with our farmers.

Issues 11-18
2014-2018
Issues 1-10
2009-2014
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Conor Woodman ~ Unfair Trade?

Conor Woodman UnFair Trade book cover image

Table of Contents

Unfair Trade explores

"How big business exploits the world's poor - and why it doesn't have to"

Conor Woodman – an investigative journalist, television presenter, author and public speaker- has looked at who we are and what we claim to do. 

How is it that our favourite brands can import billions of pounds’ worth of goods from the developing world every year, and yet leave the people who produce them barely scraping a living? Is it that big business is incompatible with the eradication of poverty? And, if so, are charity and fair trade initiatives the only way forward?

In Unfair Trade (2012), he traces a range of products back to their source to uncover who precisely is benefiting and who is losing out. He goes diving with lobster fishermen in Nicaragua who are dying in their hundreds to keep the restaurant tables of the US well stocked. He ventures into war-torn Congo to find out what the developed world’s insatiable demand for tin means for local miners.

And he risks falling foul of the authorities in Laos as he covertly visits the country’s burgeoning rubber plantations, established to supply Chinese factories that in turn supply the West with consumer goods. In the process, he tests accepted economic wisdom on the best way to create a fairer world – and suggests a simpler but potentially far more radical solution.

 

Researching how EA trades

Two chapters of the book feature Ethical Addictions. In chapter 2 – keen to be green,  he visits the warehouse in Gloucester, where he talks to Ian and Dave about their journey into selling coffee and why they chose to not go down the FairTrade route.

Then in chapter 7 – do it yourself, he travels to Tanzania, to meet people from two of the farms that EA work with. First he visits the coffee growers from the Orera Village. Then he meets the charismatic Bente, a German by birth who moved to Tanzania and now owns the Machare Farm, the first place we ever bought Africa coffee from. 

Overall, his research of us and many others makes interesting observations and conclusions. We admit to being biased but these stories are really encouraging and our favourite part of the book 😉.

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“That companies can make a powerful difference by actually doing the right thing rather than simply signing up to it is confirmed by a visit (to Ethical Addictions).” (p.53)

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After visiting us in Gloucestershire he followed up on our supply chain to origin – to the Orera Village in Tanzania.

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“The importance of coffee to the people who live on the mountain cannot be underestimated. The village has suffered greatly in the past 20 years . . . . Coffee is the only cash crop here, and Liliani and the other villagers are totally dependent on the price set by the market.

That is until recently, when the village found a new buyer and began selling its coffee to Ethical Addictions . . . . who felt they could afford to pay almost twice as much as the farmers had previously received.”  (p.170)

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As you may have already gathered Ethical Addictions is not just about high quality Kilimanjaro coffee sourced direct, taking care to ensure producers are paid well and cared for, we are also concerned about the care shown to the environment, to preserve our great planet, natural habitats, and a future for us all. 

From the Back Cover

‘Conor Woodman takes the dismal out of the dismal science. He’s written an alternative travel guide to the global economy.’ Liam Halligan, Sunday Telegraph

How is it that our favourite brands can import billions of pounds’ worth of goods from the developing world every year, and yet leave the people who produce them barely scraping a living? Is it that big business is incompatible with the eradication of poverty? And, if so, are charity and fair trade initiatives the only way forward?

In Unfair Trade Conor Woodman traces a range of products back to their sourceto uncover who precisely is benefitting and who is losing out. He goes diving with lobster fishermen in Nicaragua who are dying in their hundreds to keep the restaurant tables of the US well stocked. He ventures into war-torn Congo to find out what the developed world’s insatiable demand for tin means for local miners. And he risks falling foul of the authorities in Laos as he covertly visits the country’s burgeoning rubber plantations, established to supply Chinese factories that in turn supply the West with consumer goods. In the process, he tests accepted economic wisdom on the best way to create a fairer world – and suggests a simpler but potentially far more radical solution.

Update

Unfair Trade was released in 2011 and eight years later, we are still happily doing business with both farms. You can see updates from each farm in the journal section of our website. There is sadly no longer a dart board in the offfice and Dave moved onto pastures new in 2011, but still regularly pops in for a coffee and a catch up with Ian.

Check out some interviews we made in 2019 with four of the villagers from Orera to hear their stories.

One of the really positive aspects of this book is that Conor interviews a number of small independent businesses who are trying to do the right thing. Not only are their stories inspiring but it’s also a great place to discover new ethically minded businesses to buy from. It might even inspire you to setup your own ethically minded business!

The book is still available and we still recommend it as a good read.

Check out good reads reviews here

 

Originally published 30/04/2012  Updated: 04/08/2020

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What have we been up to during lockdown?

We have been in-and-out of the roastery keeping coffee going to fuel people at home but now as lockdown eases and our trade customers start to reopen (so thankful) we thought we’d share what we’ve been up to with the extra time we had.

Elliott laid a patio. Whilst Kate made espresso martinis and took up gardening having never dug a hole before (photo not posed at all!)

Kate

Del learned how awesome teachers are whilst attempting to home-school, but also had time to binge-watch tv series and learn minecraft from his son.  Ian caught up with EA admin months overdue and volunteered with local community projects to quite literally feed 5,000!

Prepping food hampers at Roots Cafe, Gloucester

and Jack made a baby!

New Gift Pack coming soon …

We have been in the EA labs cooking up a new product that we are really excited about. We’ve noticed the popularity of gourmet coffee gift sets UK so are in the process of designing a luxury bundle which highlights our fantastic tasting java.  We hope to launch it in time to for Christmas this year.

We wanted to create something that allowed people to try out our range of arabica without necessarily needing to buy a full bag each time. These are not only aimed at new customers but our long time supporters who might want to try something different. They are also a great way to introduce friends and family to EA. 

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RE-OPENING CHECKLIST

RE-OPENING CHECKLIST

Are your machines ready after sitting idle?  Have you flushed them through?  Have you recalibrated where necessary?
Do you have enough stock? Coffee, tea, hot chocolate . . . . . ?
Do you have enough take-out items like cups, lids, trays, straws?  Remember we are 100% plastic-free for all our take-out supplies.
Have you considered signage for social distancing?
Have you conisdered a one-way sytem in and out if possible?
Make sure you do a deep-clean before opening, sanitising all tables, ledges, door handles etc.  And keep this up as a more intense routine than normal.
Masks for you and your staff – source now to avoid low stocks and higher prices
Have you considered a ‘sneeze shield’ for the till or across the serving area?
Do you want staff to brush up on barista skills whilst waiting to come back?  There’s plenty of good free videos online (including https://www.tendo.com/coffee) or we can arrrange a socially-distanced refresher training session a day or so before you re-open.

Anything else you think we can help with just ask me or the team

We are in and out of the roastery most days but if you can’t get through to the office then try my mobile 07951 598846

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