Coffee Sourcing and our Producers
We have a close trading relationship with our producers
We source our coffee from carefully selected farms and cooperatives located in key producing countries throughout Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Working with different seasonalities and variations in flavour profiles of each producer, we can ensure that we maximise both the quality and freshness of the coffees we offer.
We have built strong relationships with our farmers over the years and this has helped us to develop a mutual understanding and to collaborate on great tasting sustainable coffee.
Producer Profiles
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Location |
Copan/ Celaque in western Honduras |
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Length of relationship |
10+ years |
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Number of farmer members |
900+ active farmer members (32% female) |
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Arabica varietals |
ARABICA: PARAINEMA, OBATA, CATIMOR, CATUAI, CATURRA, LEMPIRA, IHCAFE 90 |
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Certifications |
We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from COCAFCAL |
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Altitude |
1,400 – 1,600 MASL |
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Harvest season |
October – April |
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Processing |
Fully washed on farm & centralised. Patio, drying tunnels & some rotary drying. |
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Cupping note |
Balanced citrus acidity, tropical fruit with medium body and smooth cup. |
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We asked Omar Rodriguez, General Manager of the Capucas cooperative, “How would you describe our trading relationship?” |
“The relationship we have between Matthew Algie, Wakefield [our trading partner] and Capucas is a personal relationship, it’s a trust relationship, and it’s not only business. We’re very happy that we have you as a support here, and also there [in the UK] in helping to promote the Capucas community. We are growing together and that’s very important for us.” |
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Project with Ground Espresso Bars |
We facilitated a project with COCAFCAL and our customer, Ground Espresso Bars, who wanted to invest in a project that would have a social impact in a coffee community that was relevant to their bespoke blend. Ground contributed towards the construction of a new ICT and virtual learning centre in the Capucas community. We travelled with them to Capucas on several occasions as the project progressed, and finally for the inauguration ceremony. The centre is now used for providing school children with ICT lessons and distance learning for University students. In fact, the centre is the first rural University of its kind in Honduras, and the students are often choosing to study subjects that will equip them for jobs in the coffee industry, such as working for the cooperative. |
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Want to know more about the great work of COCAFCAL? |
Location | Octopeque in Western Honduras |
Length of relationship | 10+ years |
Number of farmer members | 400 + members |
Arabica varietals | ARABICA: TÍPICA, CATURRA, BORBÓN, PACAMARA, PACAS, CATUAI, PARAINEMA, 90, LEMPIRA, ICATU, BOURBON |
Certifications | We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from COCAFELOL |
Altitude | 1,100 – 1700 MASL |
Harvest season | November – April |
Processing | Fully washed on farm processed at centralised washing stations. Patio, drying tunnels & some rotary drying. |
Cupping note | Balanced citrus acidity, tropical fruit with medium body and smooth cup. |
What impact has Fairtrade certification had at COCAFELOL? | “Fair trade for us is the best help for the coffee producers, because helps to give them a Fair prices and with these prices the producers can give maintenance to the farms and keep food on the table. For me, the Fair trade and Organic are the best combination for the producers.” Delmy Regalado
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Want to know more about the great work of COCAFELOL? |
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Location |
San Ignacio & Jaen provinces in northern Peru |
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Length of relationship |
10+ years |
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Number of farmer members |
1,000+ members |
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Arabica varietals |
CATIMOR, TYPICA, CATURRA, PACHE, BOURBON, MUNDONOVO,CATUAI |
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Certifications |
We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from Sol and Cafe |
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Altitude |
1,200 – 2,200 MASL |
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Harvest season |
April – November |
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Processing |
Fully washed on farm and dried on patios and raised beds |
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Cupping note |
Medium body, red fruit, soft sweetness and well balanced |
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What impact has Fairtrade certification had at Sol y Café? |
‘Fairtrade is very important because I think it changed the way to produce and sell coffee in Peru. With a new generation of coops in Perú in the late 90’s and early 2000s, these ones invested in technical assistance in topics like quality, production and varieties of coffee. The coops gave empowerment to all the farmers, they increased the self-steam on farmers. That’s the reason the quality of the Peruvian coffee has been increasing. Also, with the Fairtrade premium the coops are more competitive with the national and international big companies. At the end all the coffee farmers won because they could access to better prices.’ Lenin Gomez |
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Want to know more about the great work of Sol y Café? |
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Location |
Upper Amazon region of Junin. |
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Length of relationship |
10+ years |
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Number of farmer members |
400+ members (30% female) |
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Arabica varietals |
CATURRA, CATIMOR, PACHE, BOURBON |
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Certifications |
We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from Ubiriki |
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Altitude |
1,000 – 1700 MASL |
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Harvest season |
March – October |
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Processing |
Fully washed on farm and dried on patios and raised beds |
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Cupping note |
Medium body, red fruit, soft sweetness and well balanced |
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Project with Smokin’ Bean |
Working alongside our partner, Smokin’ Bean, in 2020 we launched “Project Next Gen” with farmers at the Valle Ubiriki cooperative. To ensure the sustainability of coffee farming in the area, the project aims to engage young people in the community in coffee processing and quality control. Five young people in the community will be selected and trained to Q Grader standard as part of the programme. Updates on the project will be available through our social media channels and in our Sustainability Reports. |
Location | Sandia Valley, Southern Peru |
Length of relationship | 10 years |
Number of farmer members | 1,100 members |
Arabica varietals | BOURBON, TYPICA, CATURRA, CATUAI, CATIMOR |
Certifications | We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from San Juan del Oro. |
Altitude | 1,000 – 2,200 metres |
Harvest season | May – November |
Fermentation | Fully washed, traditional mill. |
Drying | Patio and drying tunnels. |
Cupping note | Soft, balanced citrus acidity, with excellent medium body. |
Collaborative Partnerships | We have been involved in two award-winning programmes with the San Juan del Oro cooperative in recent years. The first phase commenced in 2013 and was inspired by meeting farmers whose yields had fallen by 70% due to “la roya” or coffee leaf rust; a disease which had flourished with the onset of milder winters and harder rains. The programme supported farmers to adapt to these impacts of climate change and in particular to become better stewards of water. Our more recent collaboration involved a bigger group of supply chain stakeholders, including M&S and Taylors of Harrogate, and more Peruvian coffee farmers. Whilst continuing to strengthen farmer’s climate change resilience, the project had a social aspect and sought to improve the way that the cooperative engages with women and young people in the community. A film about the project collaboration is available here. |
We asked Mateo Quispe, General Manager of San Juan del Oro, how he would describe our trading relationship? | “The relationship is not something I see as purely business or economic relationship, it is beyond that – it is something we feel sentimental about, it gives us a good feeling. Matthew Algie is the only client that we have been selling to since 1999 and they have been here for us in many ways. They have helped us to keep going, creating a financially stable business, helping us through the worst times, giving us jobs and extra business and contracts. It brings us a sustainable partnership and we feel as coffee producers and exporters that we have a partner in another part of the world. They have created that sensation that we have an ally and a part of their hearts in Europe.” |
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Location |
Carmo de Minas in Minas Gerais State, along the mountainside of ‘Serra da Mantiquiera de Minas’ |
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Length of relationship |
5+ years |
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Number of farmer members |
100+ members |
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Arabica varietals |
YELLOW BOURBON, RED BOURBON, ACAIA, YELLOW CATUAI, RED CATUAI, CATUCAI, MUNDO NOVO |
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Certifications |
We buy Fairtrade certified coffee from Ascarive |
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Altitude |
900 – 1,550 MASL |
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Harvest season |
May – November |
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Processing |
Natural process – dried on patios or raised beds |
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Cupping note |
Medium body, cereal, nut and smooth |
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We spoke to Maria Paula Rocha, Business Manager at ASCARIVE and asked her to explain in her own words how the relationship between Matthew Algie and ASCARIVE has developed? |
“A healthy, transparent and mutually supportive relationship was built where the entities are able to grow together. In 2019, ASCARIVE was pleased to receive the visit of Matthew Algie collaborators and demonstrate some of the work our associates have been doing. At that moment, it was possible to present projects developed by Ascarive using Fairtrade premiums mainly in the environmental, social and quality improvement areas. After this visit it became clear that the partnership will always be successful.” |
Location | Based across districts of Bushenyi, Mitooma, Rubirizi, Sheema and Ntungamo in the mountains of southwest Uganda |
Length of relationship | 10+ years |
Number of farmer members | 7.000+ |
Varietal | Robusta |
Certifications | We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest certified coffees from ACPCU |
Altitude | 1,600 – 1,900 MASL |
Harvest season | May – September & December – February |
Processing | Natural process, dried on patios at farm |
Cupping note | Earth, rich, heavy full body, |
What impact has Fairtrade certification had for farmers at ACPCU? | ‘Through Fairtrade minimum price, Farmers have improved on their standards of living where farmers have constructed permanent houses from temporary ones, educated their children, increased production for approximately 2 bags to 7 bags thus increased household income. |
Want to know more about the great work of ACPCU? |
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Location |
Throughout the mountains and valleys of the Sidama region in Southern Ethiopia |
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Length of relationship |
10+ years |
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Number of farmer members |
70,000+ members |
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Arabica Varietal |
Sidamo |
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Certifications |
We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from Sidama |
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Altitude |
1,800 MASL |
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Harvest season |
September – January |
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Coffee processing |
Washed and sun-dried or 100% sun dried (natural) |
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Cupping note |
Floral, bergamot tea like, fragrant, berry fruits |
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What impact has Fairtrade certification had for farmers at Sidama? |
‘I am the first woman to be a member of the board and thanks to this, I can influence other women to come to the yearly meeting allowing themselves to be voted onto the board. Now more women want to join us and decide. The Fairtrade Premium has changed our lives. With the Premium, we have been able to develop our society.’ Belaynesh Mamo works at the Shilcho Primary Cooperative and SCFCU board member. (source: Fairtrade.net) |
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Want to know more about the great work of Sidama? |
www.sidamacoffee.com/home.html
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Location |
Bener Meriah district, Aceh Province in Northern Sumatra |
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Length of relationship |
10+ years |
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Number of farmer members |
2,000+ members (25% female) |
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Arabica varietal |
Ateng, Linie S (S795), Bourbon (Gayo 1, Gayo 2) and CaTimor |
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Certifications |
We buy Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from Permata Gayo. |
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Altitude |
1200 – 1,600 MASL |
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Harvest season |
September – July |
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Coffee processing |
Semi-washed/ pulped natural |
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Cupping note |
Heavy body, great for bringing structure to our blends with chocolate and spice notes |
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Impact of Fairtrade Certification for farmer members of Permata Gayo |
Selling coffee as Fairtrade certified delivers more value back to producers by ensuring the cooperative receives a social premium for every pound of coffee sold. Permata Gayo have used this premium to invest back in the cooperative and the community, for example: • Food programme – Providing staple foods to its members outside of the harvest season to improve food security. • Improving farming practices – Providing agricultural tools for farmers has reduced the need for chemical herbicides by 95%! They’ve also trained farmers on soil conservation, safe disposal of waste and composting. • Community healthcare – Equipping medical centres with instruments and supplies for pregnant women and young babies. • Empowering women – Permata Gayo has created a women’s only group, Kokowagayo, and they market and sell their coffee separately. They’ve also set up a micro-credit scheme for female farmers to further encourage their economic empowerment. |
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Want to know more about the great work of Permata Gayo? |
Location | Muhanga District, Southern province |
Length of relationship | 3+ years |
Number of farmer members | 400+ members (150+ female) |
Arabica varietals | Bourbon |
Certifications | We buy Fairtrade certified coffee from Sholi |
Altitude | 1,800 = 2.000 MASL |
Harvest season | March – June |
Processing | Fully washed at central washing station and dried on raised beds |
Cupping note | Perfume, delicate citrus acidity, balanced with a vanilla sweetness |
Partnership with Challenges Worldwide | Since 2017, we have been involved with a collaborative programme implemented by Challenges Worldwide, supporting eight coffee cooperatives in western and southern Rwanda in tackling some of the systemic challenges that they face such as poor infrastructure, access to finance and access to international markets. Our specific role in the programme is to provide industry insight, such as feedback on coffee quality, and to assist with promoting the unique qualities of Rwandan coffee in the UK market. A highlight so far has been introducing our customer, the University of Strathclyde, to Aimable Nshimiye the General Manager of the Sholi coffee cooperative, one of the groups involved in the project. The University uses one of our coffee blends which includes a Rwandan coffee component in their hospitality outlets, so this was a great opportunity for actors at different ends of the supply chain to learn from one another. More broadly, we have been able to assist the programme by hosting three coffee tastings at events showcasing the project and roasting sample bags of single origin coffee from the Sholi group. Coinciding with the launch of the mid-project report, Challenges Worldwide produced this short video, showing the impact at origin and the ripple effect this has had along the supply chain. |
Want to know more about the great work of Sholi? |
Location | Municipality of Anserma in the Caldas Region of northwest Colombia |
Length of relationship | A relatively new relationship, currently supplying coffee for a single origin product for one of our larger customers who are long-term supporters of fairtrade and its principles |
Number of farmer members | 2,000+ members |
Arabica varietals | Caturra, Castillo, Colombia |
Certifications | Fairtrade, organic (very small %), RA |
Altitude | 1,400 – 1,800 MASL |
Harvest season | Main crop Oct – Dec and fly crop March – May |
Processing | Cherries are harvested, pulped, washed and dried to parchment level and then transported to a central storage location for further quality checks |
Cupping note | Cocoa, medium body, black cherry and vanilla sweetness |
Partnership with Challenges Worldwide | Since 2017, we have been involved with a collaborative programme implemented by Challenges Worldwide, supporting eight coffee cooperatives in western and southern Rwanda in tackling some of the systemic challenges that they face such as poor infrastructure, access to finance and access to international markets. Anserma have been Fairtrade certified since 2004 and have invested the premiums received through Fairtrade in a number of projects. These include:
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More info. on Anserma |
