About Us
DEEP ROOTS. BIG VISION. EXCEPTIONAL COFFEE.
Great coffee starts with respect. When people across the supply chain are supported to thrive, quality follows. That guiding belief shapes every decision we make—from how we source and price coffee to how we roast, train, and reinvest in farming communities. Your daily cup can be delicious and dignified at the same time.
OUR CIRCLE MODEL
A cycle that begins with, and returns to, our partners in coffee-growing regions.
We provide coffee drinkers with the opportunity to engage in a cycle that starts at origin and flows back there again. We’re fully engaged in that circle, sourcing coffee directly from farmers through our ownership in Cooperative Coffees and circling value back to farmers and their communities via our sister nonprofit, On the Ground. When your purchase fuels long-term trade and community projects, everyone wins—from farm to roastery to your mug.
A WORLD OF GOOD FRIENDS
Relationships you can taste.
We visit farms and meet with growers—even if that means traveling dirt roads, around washed-out bridges, through riverbeds, and up mountainsides. We drink coffee together and talk about the best ways to keep farms sustainable and profitable. Travel can ebb and flow with global realities, but our commitment to face-to-face connection doesn’t. Those shared tables and cupping rooms are where trust—and better coffee—are built.
PEOPLE + PLANET + PROFIT
Craft matters; dignity matters more.
We could happily debate processing methods or the finer points of espresso all day. But even the most talented, hard-working people can’t focus on quality if they lack basic needs and power. That belief guides how we operate—fair pay, fair terms, and a voice for producers; living-wage jobs and growth paths for our team; choices that reduce our footprint at home and support climate resilience at origin. When people and planet are prioritized, profit becomes a tool for impact, not the other way around.
THE WAY WE TRADE
Transparent, direct, long-term—and always above Fair-trade minimums.
Global Fair trade standards set a floor. We build on it. Through Cooperative Coffees (which we co-own), we pay prices above the minimums with quality premiums and invest in grower-led projects. We use open contracts and offer pre-financing when requested, reducing risk so producers can plan, invest, and innovate. We publish contract details at fairtradeproof.org, because integrity should be visible.
PROOF & PARTNERS
Independent standards and partners who keep us honest.
We’re Certified Organic and a Certified B Corporation, which means our social and environmental performance is tested against rigorous benchmarks. Our partnerships deepen that accountability. On the Ground advances water access, education, gender equity, and health in coffee communities. Cooperative Coffees builds transparent, long-term trade relationships and shares the paperwork the industry usually hides. These checks and friendships make our promises real.
CRAFT YOU CAN TASTE
Vetted at origin, cupped again in Traverse City, roasted to order.
Every lot we buy has passed through cupping tables more than once—first with producer partners and Cooperative Coffees, then again in our roastery. From there we roast in small batches, dial profiles for clarity and sweetness, and package for freshness so what you brew at home or in your café matches the coffee’s potential. Clear brew guides and training support keep that quality consistent in the cup.
TRAINING & EDUCATION: THE LEARNING LAB
Confident baristas make better coffee—let’s level up together.
Our Learning Lab offers practical training for cafés and teams: espresso and milk science, manual brew methods, QC/cupping, workflow, and equipment care. Sessions are led by our education team (including an Authorized SCA Trainer and Licensed Q Grader) with custom programs for partners and options bundled with equipment. If you’re building a coffee program—or sharpening a great one—we’ll meet you where you are.
OUR HOME BASE
Roasted with care in Traverse City, Michigan.
Our roastery and café sit inside The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Through the café windows, you can watch our production team transform green coffee into beautifully roasted batches. Outside, a tree-lined patio by a quiet stream offers a place to slow down and savor. If you’re nearby, come say hello—we’d love to pour you a cup.