News + Blog | Higher Grounds Coffee – Page 10

Supporting Gender Equality in Eastern Congo

"The GALS has improved the economy of so many households. The women and children are now participating in the decision-making in their household and community, and they have now joint...

The Power of Co-ops: Farmer stories (Jose, Part 1)

“Before the creation of Maya Vinic, I had to deal with middlemen—coyoteros—who would use their own unreliable scales to cheat us out of kilos of coffee. Many told us coffee...

Higher Grounds Recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Business

The League of American Bicyclists recognized Higher Grounds with a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB℠) award, joining nearly 1,200 progressive businesses from across the country.

The Power of Collaboration

"It is not just in our economic lives that we suffer. We also suffer contempt, marginalization, and oblivion as indigenous people in Mexico. But we remain hopeful because of the real...

Meet Jose, Maya Vinic Founder and Farmer

It is for Jose and all those he represents that we strive to share our circular model of business with the larger specialty coffee community, pushing our colleagues and competitors...

3 Essential Qualities of Great Espresso

When it comes to quality, three essential characteristics must work together harmoniously to create great espresso: acidity, sweetness, and bitterness.

Eastern Congo: the Last Bastion of Specialty Coffee

I’ve been captured by the allure of one of the last standing bastions of potential for specialty coffee production left in the world. I write this as I travel across...

Congo Bound

As I cross the Atlantic Ocean on the beginnings of a 36-hour journey to eastern DR Congo, I struggle to find an easily digestible way to explain why I am...

Women Farmers in Charge? Get Used to It.

I cannot fully portray the spirit of these amazing women. They have all been through so much; the older women who carved a path to a better future for the...