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Category: Projects

We have had the privilege of working on various projects with our farmers over the years and you can find out more about them here.

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Brazil House build project

Brazil Project: Renovating La Casa de Idê

A key part of our ethos as a business is investing back into the communities that produce our coffee beans, sometimes this looks like helping with equipment that helps them in their coffee production, other times it involves partnering with them by helping people in their communities who are most in need.

One of our latest projects has been working with Athos, Luiz and their friends in the community we have helped play a small part in renovating a home for a family that was really suffering with poor health and financial difficulties.

Amanda says:

“This is Mrs Ide and her daughter Adriana who has additional needs. She has suffered a great deal in her life. Having lost her husband 3 years ago and having had a heart attack herself. If it had not been for the assistance from my mother she would not have been able to survive. She has become like family to us and we are helping to give her the decent home that she deserves.  

We have completely rebuilt her home from scratch as her existing house did not have any foundations. A group we formed from the city hall as well as friends were contributing everything to the project. My family started this project to help her as her house was sinking and there was a danger that she and her house may completely sink underground. But now that group that was helping has stopped.

Thank God we have very good people in this group helping! It’s a miracle from God! I just have to thank everyone who decided to help us with this action! This is a miracle for us, there are still very good people in this world! I only have gratitude!”
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Money down the toilet! 🚽

Whenever we are in East Africa, we’re not only checking coffee quality and sorting the next year’s crop, we are looking for opportunities to invest in communities and improve lives. We believe in the power of business to do good, and the ‘full circle’ whereby we not only trade directly, honestly and generously, but with our profits, we look to give back even more to the people who grow our coffee.

Ian with John, head teacher Pascalina and friend

At the end of 2022, we visited Omi School in Mweka, Northern Tanzania. This is the local school where the children from the coffee-growing families, that we know and work with will go. Whilst visiting we saw the terrible state of the current toilets.

The government had built the basic structure of two new toilet blocks – one for the boys and one for the girls. However, that’s as far as it went. Unfortunately there was no more funding to finish the build, they still need access steps, doors, windows, plumbing, painting and finishing. There is still a lot to do! This felt like a great project to get involved with – relationally as we know the families, and because it will have such a positive impact on health and hygiene.

So discussions started with John, a local education support officer and Pascalina, the Omi school headteacher to see if and how we can help. Excitingly, in February we sent the money to complete the toilet blocks.  John has met with the school committee and the MP, so we’re ready to go!

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the short thankyou from the school children. 

Update

Update images below.

Completed!

❛❛

Hello, we are incredibly happy to have a modern model toilet in the whole district. We are very happy, teachers, students, and all the school committee, especially girls. we thank them. Thank you very much to you and your family together with Mr. John for good management, and for our efforts, we pray for you.

God bless you very much, our children are happy, also on behalf of the elementary school committee, we are happy.

Head Teacher Pascalina

❜❜

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Tree Planting in Kenya

Introduction by Ian

Mount Kilimanjaro lies on the border of Tanzania and Kenya, and when our friend Josh came to EA with his plan to go back to Loitokitok, Kenya and invest in tree nurseries and tree planting it was a no-brainer for us to support him. Kenya has suffered with severe deforestation in the past, so right now there are various initiatives to restore degraded land, increase forest cover, protect habitats and tackle climate change. The trees will also improve the agricultural fortunes of the community.

So in Feb 2023 Josh was there, in Loitoktok, a remote Masai region, donning EA merchandise to represent us, and planting trees that we donated. We’ve seen it first-hand ourselves in various countries, but once again I am humbled and amazed to see communities with apparently so little, caring about the environment, we need to change our mindset in the West and learn from people like Joe and others that Josh is working with.

Josh tells the story . . .

“When I was chatting with Ian about my plan to plant some trees in Kenya, to my amazement, he instantly offered Ethical Addictions full support by funding all the 200 mature trees I had in mind. When I arrived back in Kenya this year I was struck by the severe dryness, it has been 3 years since my last visit and the impact of the heat and the lack of rain was shocking.

As I entered the village, Mt Kilimanjaro came into view and slowly we saw the place begin to get a little greener. I got together with my close friends in Loitokitok and began to dig holes, all day, whilst roasting in the sun.

One week later all 200 holes were dug and we began to plant the trees EA had sponsored.

During the planting, we had drawn attention around the village and so by the end of the week I managed to gather 22 men who would commit to regularly continuing the work. They would meet as a prayer group each week and also create a tree nursery. This kickstarted by planting 15,000 seedlings, received from other organisations meaning watering the seedlings and continuing to plant more is possible.

Both myself, Joe and the community in Loitoktok want to say a huge thank you to Ian and EA – not only for the sponsoring of the trees, but the fact that he has set a passion in me for planting trees where the world and our people who live on our planet need them most. Without him saying yes to giving me the opportunity to plant these trees, none of this would have been possible. Thank you.”


– Joshua Metcalf (Friend to EA, Project Lead, and all-round good guy)

Joshua Metcalf
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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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The boys are back in town

Written by Jack

Fresh from the trip to the Machare African coffee Farm and the surrounding smallholders in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro I am sitting, reflecting on the privilege it is to now be part of the EA journey, and to realise how great it is to have been working with these communities for the past 12 years.

I’ve been with EA just over two years now and this was my first trip to origin, and what a trip! I knew we have good coffee, and I knew we did great stuff in country, but to see the attention to detail involved in bringing us such high grade beans; to see the impact of the way we do business; and the social investments we make – it just blew me away.

A lot has changed over the course of the decade but two things that stand out are:

  1. The increase in attention to detail 
  2. The improvements in farmers living standards.

Whilst the potential of the coffee has always been outstanding, coffee farmers have grown in their care for their crops and we have seen an increase in quality and consistency year on year. It is touching to see how proud the farmers are of their coffee and grateful for our ongoing relationship. They know and trust that as long as they keep producing their coffee at a high standard, we will continue to supply it to coffee shops across the UK.

For us on a personal level it is hugely encouraging to see how EA and its customers have helped to improve the lives of farmers and their communities. Hearing stories of how farmers can send their children to school, build a bigger home and afford healthcare reminds us of why we believe the direct trade model has to be the right
way of doing business.

Furthermore the success story of the Mweka villages and the relationship with EA is spreading across the region. Our hope is that it will lead to more relationships either with us or other businesses who share our way of doing trade and investing in people. 

We are looking forward to the new year and decade with renewed encouragement to get this unique coffee into more cups and further the lives of our friends in Tanzania, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia . . . .
Jack has been working at EA for just over 2 years. His favourite blend is our Jacutinga and he takes it black.
Jack Neave
Full of Beans!
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Newsletter: Weights & Measures

Autumn 2019

Weigh more value for small producers in Tanzania

You can’t do your job properly without the right tools. We continue to believe in our farmers, and continue to invest in our relationships with them in order to improve their livelihoods, and improve your coffee.

These new weighing scales allow them to do more of the process in their village, adding more value to their crop. In the past we have invested in pulpers for the same reason, and now when they have dried and sorted the beans they can bag and weigh them ready to
go to town for the final milling. EA have bought seven scales, and the necessary government calibration certificates for the seven villages in Mweka, Kilimanjaro. 

When Ian visits later this year we’ll make sure he weighs something and sends us all a photo!

News for next time

Jacutinga photos, Brazil crops arriving, and Colombia . . . .

New Coffee Bags

Looking oh so good!

Our new stand-up pouches available now for all coffees:
> kraft paper outer
> one-way valve for freshness
> ziplock resealable strip
> new labels

But same great coffee of course.

Ethical Bean Decaf bag surrounded by roasted beans

If you love coffee but thinking of reducing your caffeine intake you should checkout our Swiss Water decaf. We think it might be the best decaf coffee uk. A strong claim but our customers love it. In fact we have customers who just buy this brand from us.

Happerly Gold

A true check on provenance and transparency of the supply process, we are pleased to have been awarded the GOLD STANDARD. happerley.co.uk

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Newsletter: Jack & Jacutinga

Summer 2019

Beautiful scenes, beautiful coffee

jacutinga 2019 (39)
jacutinga 2019 (6) Drying Tables
Jacutinga 2017 E

This is Jacutinga, ethically sourced coffee from a small coffee growing community high in the hills of southern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

We’ve been back to buy the crop this year and meet with Osmar and his family. The more they understand speciality coffee, and the benefits of taking extra care, the better the coffee is becoming. It’s already cupping in the mid- to high-80s, and offering a full rounded sweet cup, with chocolate and hazelnut notes. And it is grown 1200m high up in the most beautiful scenery.

One of the projects we’ve invested in through a social premium per bag is to fund raised drying tables which Elton is keen to use for his crop. These should dry the beans more uniformly, and avoid any contamination reducing rejections. Here’s his mum, Gorete, checking on the first pick to be dried this way. Can’t wait to cup it!

News for next time

  • ☕ New Coffee Bags
  • ☕ A possible new origin
  • And hopefully some roasters news too ...
brazil jacutinga taste guide

Jack of all trades!

Jack has joined the team full-time and adds a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the office and warehouse – which we love!

He is passionate about coffee and about the way we trade so he is keen to learn and travel to the farms.

What most excites you about working with EA?

Loud, lively and very tall.

Give us 3 words to describe you?

Being able to make a difference where it matters, and having a good time in the process.

What will your role be here at EA?

We all do a bit of everything, but I will mainly look after new customers, training, as well as packing up orders and deliveries.

What's your favourite coffee right now?

Grizzly Brown Bear Coffee through a V60 dripper. I love the dark roast blend.

Brown Bear Coffee bag in roasted coffee beans
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Feeding kids in Uganda

We have partnered with a local primary school to help with their feeding project in Kigulya, Uganda.

The international lead on the project says:

❛❛

“As a result of fundraising at school and the generous donation from Ethical Addictions we are able to provide the resources to farm a large area of land surrounding the school.

The crops produced will in turn provide a hot meal for the children at Kigulya during this coming year, many of whom would not otherwise receive a hot meal at home.”

❜❜
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Newsletter: Improving coffee, improving lives

February 2018

Improving Coffee, Improving Lives

Our Kilimanjaro coffees are exceptional high grown Arabicas and cup consistently high year after year. This year’s trip was a reflective one after 10 years in Tanzania, and we were able to map the increased quantity and quality of the crop, especially from the smallholders higher up the mountain slopes.

Now, as Ethical Addictions coffee brewery, we have only ever bought the higher grades (AA / AB / PB) but the percentage of their overall crop reaching that standard was at an all-time high this year.

It comes to us following its diligent processing by the farmers to ensure excellent selection, utmost care to washing and gentle drying under the African sun. We expect this crop to land with us in the UK in early March, and first cupping shows the usual strong, bold coffee with its subtle hints of dark chocolate and orange.

Quality of Life

How good our coffee is, is important to us as coffee drinkers, as a business, for our customers, and because it offers a sustainable way to help those who work hard to grow it. That’s why we have endeavoured to build a business that does coffee, trade and social action excellently. Ian’s recent trip to Tanzania did all of the above – checking quality, agreeing the trade, and digging furrows for the latest water project – literally!

For more on the water projects and some of the villagers it has helped, including photos and video, simply click on the links on the right hand side of this journal.

Coffee prices held for 2018

We have already booked our main shipments for the year and managed to save a little on the exchange rate to offset any increase necessary.

Meet Chief Mushi

In honour of the work EA has done in Mweka for the past 10 years Ian was surprised to be made a chief in the Chagga tribe. We think he looks great and should wear his tribal dress in the office!

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BBC video of EA water projects

BBC radio interview today about the latest trip to Tanzania and Ian becoming a tribal chief.

To promote this interview, they took pictures and videos that Ian had recorded on location in Tanzania and turned it into this short video that was shared online.

Video Transcript

  • This is the first time Cecilia has used clean running water
  • She lives in Tanzania where Ian Meredith from Gloucester, gets his coffee.
  • He owns Ethical Addictions – an ethical coffee company.
  • He’s also been supporting long-term development for Mweka villages…
  • Like getting running water to people like Felicita, who live on Mount Kilimanjaro.
  • In 10 years, Ian says he’s witnessed huge changes in living standards.
  • The village of Orera is so grateful to Ian…
  • They’ve made him a chief of the Chagga Tribe!
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