Mail from Ethiopia

We can only get a grip on the big challenges of our time if we tackle them together – and only if each of us takes many small steps in the right direction. We, for example, have decided to focus our contribution on environmental protection and fairness. And we’re doing that where our coffee comes from: in Africa, especially in Ethiopia.

More environmental protection, more quality of life

We can make the biggest difference by working directly with the coffee farmers. Our principle is partnership at eye level: it should be a genuine collaboration from which both sides truly benefit. From our partners we receive what is probably the best coffee in the world, grown sustainably in the gardens of small family farms in Ethiopia. And the families who grow this coffee don’t just receive fairer prices for their work from us. We also support wonderful initiatives like the Cook Stove Project – and maybe, through a donation when shopping in our online store, you’ve even helped make this project such a success. (And it will become an even greater success – it’s still ongoing! We’ll tell you more about this special project in our next blog post.)

Recently, our joint efforts received a special recognition: a “Certificate of Appreciation” from the Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union. This is the largest association of coffee farmers in Ethiopia and a real driving force: the Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union improves living conditions for farming families through training and technical support. The certificate was awarded to us on the occasion of their 25th General Assembly – an official thank-you, so to speak, for our strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable agriculture in the coffee-growing regions.

The thanks go to you as well

This award is especially meaningful to us for two reasons. Firstly, it comes directly from the people on the ground. That proves the project is genuinely improving people’s lives. Secondly, it gives us the opportunity to share this gratitude with you: with every cup of Afro Coffee you drink, you support us in implementing our projects locally. And with every Cook Stove donation in our online store, you directly improve the life of a farming family. So, officially, from us to you: thank you!