Few beverages bring people together like coffee. At a minimum, millions of people start their day with it. Many of them pep up slow or cold moments with a mug as well. Take as evidence of its popularity the fact that coffee only grows a few degrees north and south of the equator, yet people the world over import it to drink regularly. To give North Americans a reference for the rest of the world, know that along with western areas, Asia and the Middle East do consume a lot of coffee. Although coffee does grow in Africa, it’s not as popular there.
This bean-based brew has a vast array of flavors and ways to prepare it. A variety of milk and cream setups soften the flavor. Cool coffee down for a pick-me-up in hot climates. Add flavor or seasoning for a different cup o’ joe.
Between the energizing effect of caffeine, the comfort of drinking a hot beverage and great tastes alone or when doctored up, it’s no wonder coffee has been a standard beverage of our lives for a long time. A benefit of coffee that is seldom mentioned is its ability to bring people together.
Coffee Connections
Coffee has a particular ability to help people connect, regardless of whether the coffee is still in plant form, is being transported or is being savored in liquid form. On a small scale, coffee drinkers can bond over their love of coffee. Most find themselves becoming increasingly chatty as well. The energy buzz from coffee often helps people open up. While alcohol can have the same effect, it can pose health and, well, behavioral risks.
While the beverage’s ability to bring people together on a small scale is more obvious, it also connects people on a larger scale. Coffee shops and cafes are neutral meeting spots. Coffee drinkers who have little else in common, perhaps because they come from different places or have different lifestyles, can chat about coffee preparation and enjoyment. When getting to know one another, talking over coffee can be the start of a long friendship, work arrangement or even romance.
The growth and harvesting of coffee also bring people together in communities where it’s grown. Beyond that, if you drew a map of coffee trade routes departing from where coffee naturally goes on the equator, each region would have many trade paths that span out, especially northward and southward. Each decently sized coffee-producing area is like an octopus with hundreds of travel-path tentacles both short and long. They connect people further from the equator. Many of them mostly eat local food but cannot imagine life without coffee that’s grown near the equator.
Human Connections on the Paths Coffee Travels
Latin America produces almost two-thirds of all coffee. The world’s favorite bean, arabica, comes from Latin America in 80% of cases. While a few countries have reaped the benefits of the world’s love of arabica, a few other players have stepped onto the coffee field, no pun intended.
More people than ever before are trying to purchase high-quality coffee. With horror stories of the exploitation of labor and natural resource usage from previous centuries and even recent decades, more people try to use their conscience when purchasing. With consumers demanding transparency into sourcing and supply chains for their food and products, people are not just keeping their conscience clear. They’re also seizing opportunities to connect with others in far-off lands.
When trying to purchase a food or commodity that is exclusive to a distant area, it’s not necessary to sacrifice quality for sustainable and responsible sourcing. In fact, purchasing coffee in certain ways can be surprisingly beneficial. At least, it can do a lot more good than you would expect from a routine purchase.
Connecting with Subida Coffee
Subida coffee makes a connection with coffee growers in Honduras not only a conscience-calming move. It plants multiple seeds that will have a positive effect. The sale of Subida’s premium coffee helps support disadvantaged boys over age 13 who reside and are educated on the 120-acre farm and processing facility. Agricultural engineers direct a team of adults who grow and harvest the coffee. The operation is known as the Moses Project. The overarching US-based non-profit educates young men who would otherwise not be able to continue their education.
While residing at the Moses Project, the teenagers continue their regular education. They also learn to grow greenhouse vegetables and coffee. Raising tilapia and chickens and learning beekeeping rounds out their experience. Since many would need to find a way to earn money with less than a high school education, the Moses Project and the premium Subida Coffee line were established to keep them in school, receiving instruction in Christian morality and preparing for their expanded futures. Since coffee isn’t an item most people can shop for locally, supporting a non-profit is a great choice.
Gourmet Coffee for a Super Cause
Subida coffee is grown just outside of Santa Rosa de Copán, one of the largest cities in western Honduras. This mountainous tropical area receives steady rainfall. The cooler temperatures are ideal for crafting flavorful coffees. Latin Americans call this climate siempre primavera meaning “always spring.” In Honduras coffee growth is a great opportunity.
The coffee fruit is hand-selected at the peak of ripeness. In fact, at every stage, the growers of Subida control the quality with their selectiveness and care. They are committed to the mission of producing high-quality coffee. The batches of coffee are roasted in Memphis, Tennessee. They can arrive at your door, connecting you with a great cause on a large scale, and with people around you on a smaller scale.
