All about Direct Trade Coffee

Since arriving in Belgium, I have been exploring new coffee shops and found an especially interesting one Onan right in the heart of Leuven. Why is it so interesting? It is the first coffee shop that has introduced me to direct trade coffee.

What is direct trade?

The definition of direct trade coffee is pretty straightforward: the company selling the coffee gets it directly from those producing it. This means that companies like Onan know who is growing their coffee beans and means more transparency and direct knowledge of what the process entails from start to finish. For me, this means more confidence in the product I am consuming, and more awareness of the work that goes into bringing me my cup of coffee in the morning. Instead of seeing my coffee as an injection to get me moving for the day, I thought about this particular cup of coffee at Onan as a way to slow down and appreciate all of the processes that go into getting this one cup of coffee to me.

What is great about visiting a direct trade coffee shop like Onan is that many of them have the information about their farmers right on their website, allowing you to learn about their stories and the commitment to fair working conditions and more sustainable practices.

Possible challenges of the direct trade label

During my research, I learned that while fair trade certification has a more regulated process, direct trade does not get put through the same certification. However, if you ever have a question about a company that advertises direct trade, you can usually find all of the details on their website, or ask them directly.