From the Farm Up Close: What We Learned on Our Recent Coffee Origin Visits

Since late November, our team has had the opportunity to visit several coffee farms and spend meaningful time with the producers we work with. Walking the fields, seeing the trees up close, and understanding each farm’s reality gave us a deeper appreciation of the effort behind every bag of green coffee. Each producer shared their own story, from how weather shaped this year’s harvest to the decisions they make daily to protect quality and consistency. These visits reinforced that coffee is not just a product, but the result of careful work and long term commitment.

One of the most valuable parts of these trips was sitting down with producers to taste coffees together. Several farmers prepared tasting tables with samples from the new harvest, allowing us to cup coffees directly at origin. Tasting fresh coffees while discussing processing methods, fermentation choices, and drying conditions gave us clearer insight into how flavor develops long before coffee reaches the market. These shared tastings helped connect what we experience in the cup with the work happening on the farm.

These visits strengthened our relationships and reinforced why origin matters so much in the green coffee trade. Seeing firsthand the dedication of each producer helps us make better sourcing decisions and share more transparent stories with our partners and clients. Bringing these experiences back allows us to better represent both the coffees we trade and the people behind them. As we continue visiting farms and learning directly from producers, we remain committed to building long term relationships rooted in trust, quality, and shared growth.