Best Fair Trade Certified Coffee Roasters
Fair Trade certification guarantees a minimum price to coffee farmers above the commodity floor. These roasters either focus their lineup on Fair Trade lots or carry a strong Fair Trade program alongside direct-trade work.
Anchor & Tree Coffee Roasting Co.
Anchor & Tree Coffee Roasting Co. is an eco-friendly, zero-propane gas emission, LGBTQ-owned, and family-owned specialty coffee roaster in the heart of Midtown Sacramento. Founded in December 2022 by Donovan Albert and Casey Albert, they roast with electric precision and aim to make coffee an experience of wonder, connection, and impact. Their shop serves as a community collective, showcasing more than just great coffee in a welcoming environment.
Coffee Works
Coffee Works is Sacramento's original specialty coffee roaster, family-owned and operating since 1982. They are the first and only certified organic artisan roaster in Sacramento, sourcing and roasting fair trade and organic coffees biweekly to ensure optimal freshness. In addition to their roastery specialties, they offer rotating single-origin and estate-grown coffees, and are committed to supporting local nonprofit community institutions.
What does Fair Trade actually guarantee?
A minimum price floor for green coffee (currently $1.80-$2.00 per pound depending on certification body) plus a social premium that goes to producer cooperatives. It does not guarantee quality.
Is Fair Trade or organic more important?
They cover different things. Fair Trade focuses on price paid to producers; organic focuses on farming practices. Many specialty lots carry both, but neither is a quality guarantee on its own. Pair them with single-origin sourcing for the strongest signal.
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