Why Ethical Sourcing Isn't a Buzzword: The 787 Coffee Story
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In today’s coffee industry, “ethically sourced” is often just a marketing tagline. At 787 Coffee, we don’t just use that term to throw a hashtag, it's been ingrained in our DNA since 2014 when our farm, Hacienda Iluminada, was born. After Hurricane Maria happened in 2017, our direct trade model wasn't an act of kindness, but a necessity to rebuild a community.
It was built off a promise that we were going to establish relationships, trust, and respect for our farmers. These heroes, whose stories are often untold, are the heart of what helps us deliver the farm to cup experience to YOU. It's their daily resilience that makes 787 Coffee a for humans, by humans specialty coffee shop.
What Ethical Sourcing Really Means
Ethical sourcing is leading from the heart. It’s a system that creates a transparent, fair, and sustainable supply chain to deliver the best coffee to our caffeinated humans. It means ensuring that every human in Hacienda Iluminada, that has contributed to the coffee making process is treated with respect and dignity. For us this means:
Direct Relationships and Fair Compensation: Instead of middlemen, 787 Coffee buys our single-origin coffee directly from our own farm, Hacienda Iluminada. This ensures our farmers receive a fair price for their labor, a price often above market rates, which then gives our team the financial stability to invest in their lives and communities.
Safe and Sustainable Labor: Ethical sourcing also means providing safe working conditions and permanent jobs for our farmers. At Hacienda Iluminada, we're dedicated to sustainable practices that protect both the environment and our team. For example, instead of using harmful pesticides, we manually remove weeds with a machete. We also re-purpose leftover coffee pulp as nutrient-rich compost, which helps fertilize our crops naturally. Our dedication to sustainable, hands-on practices is what allows us to grow specialty coffee of the highest quality.
Community Investment: Our commitment extends to the broader community, not just the farm itself. By empowering our workers and supporting the local economy, 787 Coffee helps create better opportunities for education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Maricao.
Environmental Stewardship: Ethical sourcing is deeply tied to sustainability. 787 Coffee employs practices such as the honey processing method, which is more water-efficient than traditional methods, and we are moving toward a 100% agroforestry model, which protects biodiversity and soil health.
Transparency and Traceability: Our direct farm-to-cup model for our specialty coffee allows YOU the caffinated humans to trace the coffee's journey and understand the positive impact your contribution makes. This transparency builds a bridge between our farm and your coquito latte. It is about the value of ethical and sustainable practices, ensuring that YOU are always getting the best coffee possible.
Positive Impact on Maricao, Puerto Rico
787 Coffee's ethical sourcing model has created a significant positive impact on the community of Maricao, Puerto Rico, which in turn has elevated the quality of our single origin Puerto Rican coffee.
Economic Resilience: By creating a vertically integrated supply chain, we have provided jobs all year round and a stable market for our team, which is a lifeline for our farmers if we ever go through another hurricane like Maria and Fiona. Our homegrown specialty coffee has helped rebuild a sense of economic resilience in a region often affected by natural disasters and economic instability.
Community Empowerment: 787 Coffees investment in the community creates a positive ripple effect. When farmers are paid rightfully for the work they do and have consistent employment, they can better support their families and invest in their kids and the future generation, leading to a stronger community.
Uplifted Spirit and Pride: Our focus on Puerto Rican-grown coffee helps to celebrate the culture and traditions of Puerto Rico. We hope to inspire many reading this to go make shIT happen. We started from an abandoned farm to one of the fastest growing coffee companies in the United States. This inspires our team and gives a sense of local pride and global recognition for single origin Puerto Rican coffee.
Ethical Sourcing and Coffee Quality
Ethical sourcing is one of the, not so kept secret ingredients in making the best coffee. When farmers are empowered, respected, and fairly paid, the specialty coffee they produce reflects that care. By providing the resources they need, and being appreciative of their hard working hands that cradle 787 Coffee, we are more than motivated. We're leading a renaissance to share Maricao's rich history and its contribution of amazing single-origin coffee beans with the world.
We ensure LOVE in every single 787 cup of coffee. From carefully hand-picking each ripe coffee cherry, and implementing advanced processing methods. Our attention to detail results in a more consistent single origin coffee with dark chocolate, citrus, and buttery notes.
This direct relationship also fosters a collaborative exchange of knowledge, creating a true partnership with the community and Hacienda Iluminada. Our farmers work side-by-side with the community to implement sustainable practices that not only creates a better Earth, but also enhance the flavor of our coffee beans.
From Farm to Cup Ethical Sourcing
Every company has a “mission statement,” but no one remembers what they are working for. We use mantras at 787 Coffee, because they are a direct reflection of our identity. We believe in a "From Farm to Cup" experience. This is a reflection of our direct trade model. By owning our own farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico, we maintain complete control and transparency over the entire process.
We are one of the very few coffee companies where you can VISIT OUR FARM! And watch the whole process yourself. How the coffee cherries are planted to when they are freshly roasted. This transparency ensures quality, consistency, and, most importantly, that our farmers are seen as the caffeinated hero’s of our operations, and they are recognized every Saturday for the amazing work they do, to make shIT happen.
Specialty Coffee With a Heart
Ethical sourcing isn't a buzzword, it's a promise we keep with every specialty cup of coffee. It's a choice to support real humans, uplift entire communities, and champion a better future Earth. By choosing 787 Coffee, you’re becoming part of a story of resilience and integrity. So, the next time you take a sip from an Horchata latte, remember you are drinking hand picked specialty coffee made with love.
Order your fresh coffee bag online and bring the farm-to-cup experience home today.
Be a CAFFEINATED HUMAN.
Be a creative human. Be a good human.
Be a NuevaYOL Caffeinated Human.
To summarize…
Ethical Sourcing Is Our Foundation: At 787 Coffee, ethical sourcing isn't a marketing term, it's the core of who we are. Our journey began with our farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico, and after Hurricane Maria, our direct trade model became a mission to rebuild our community on a foundation of trust and respect for our farmers.
Our Commitment Elevates Quality: The direct relationships we have with our farmers allow for a hands-on, collaborative partnership. By providing fair wages and a safe work environment, we empower them to implement sustainable practices that not only protect the environment but also result in superior-quality single-origin coffee that you can truly taste in every cup.
For Humans, By Humans: We are leading a renaissance to bring the world the rich history of Maricao's specialty coffee. Our entire business is a testament to the idea that by uplifting our community and celebrating the resilience of our farmers, we create a genuine, human connection that makes our coffee the best coffee—a true "for humans, by humans" experience.
