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11 Origin & sourcing

Direct trade

A sourcing model in which a roaster buys coffee straight from a farmer or cooperative, typically at prices well above the commodity market.

  • Availability: Common

Direct trade is not a certified label (there is no governing body), but the practice generally implies a long-term roaster-to-farmer relationship, on-farm visits, and prices set on quality rather than the C-market commodity rate. The model is meant to push more value to the producer and give the roaster more control over how the coffee is processed. Devoción in Williamsburg is one of the more visible direct-trade operations in Brooklyn, airfreighting Colombian beans within days of harvest.

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