The majority of the coffee BTC sources and serves is from Colombia. They grow excellent coffees that span the flavor spectrum, at a fairly approachable price, and can do so multiple times a year which is basically unique to Colombia*. This has not been an easy year for most coffee growing regions: Covid, natural disasters, and/or civil conflicts have all created a lot of uncertainty.

There’s been a lot of problems with class-inequity in Colombia and a lot of its citizens have taken to the streets in the last month to protest the government’s blatant disregard for class equity and safety. Some protests have taken the form of worker strikes. Many protests have been met by heavy-handed confrontations from the Colombian National Police force, with truly horrifying results.

To that end, we don’t know how, when, or by what means this situation will be resolved. But we do hope that it does come to a real, substantial, ethical, and long-lasting resolution. Not because or only because it very well will affect our menu and the menu of a lot of shops and roasters, but rather because we believe in the sanctity of civil rights and fairness/equity among all people. We recognize that our world only works because of workers. And we believe that when everyone is safe and secure, the world is better; the goods we create are better; the food we feed ourselves is better; the relationships that we make are more meaningful and long-lasting; and we are prone being better when we’re not afraid of how we will make ends meet- that we not divide into warring factions that fear an other. This can only happen when a government and its laws reflect and respect its people and promote equity as a virtue to live by.

Colombia- we see you. We’re grateful of your many labors. You and your community deserve dignity, economic security, and actual safety.
<3
BTC

* yes, Kenya has multiple harvests… but for the sake of this post, which is about Colombia…