Our producer partners take representative samples from each lot of coffee in their warehouse set for export.  The samples are milled to remove the parchment, then sent to Equal Exchange for approval. 

Each green coffee sample sent to Equal Exchange is put through a strict physical quality examination of the size, the color, the smell, the density, the number of imperfections and the amount of moisture in the green coffee beans.  If the sample does not fall within our adopted quality standards - those set by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) - the lot of coffee will be rejected.

Each sample is then roasted to a cinnamon color in our double barrel Probat sample roaster.  This style of roasting is required for tasting the sample through “cupping”.  We use the internationally recognized cupping form of the SCAA which is based upon a 100 point system with 10 categories.  This is similiar to the system used for scoring wine, and highlights the outstanding characteristics that make coffee so special.

The objective of cupping is to pull out the fine characteristics of a particular coffee through this lighter roast and to test the power and consistency of the sample.  All coffee samples are “cupped” blindly to avoid bias.

Each year our buying team makes numerous trips to countries of origin to investigate coffee crops.  In the process of selecting coffees, we work with our producer partners to deepen the relationships and share in the evolution of a “common vocabulary”.  We share vital information about the US market with our producer partners and they in turn, share their experiences with us as well.  

For each sample of green beans that we analyze, roast and cup, we send a report back to our producer partners.  This is vital information for our producer partners and enables them to make changes, adjustments and improvements over time.  The physical record of a particular imperfection, the way a coffee roasted and the notes about a particularly unique characteristic in the cup are useful, and deepen the bond between buyer and producer.