A Primer on Coffee Labels - Know What You're Buying!

Every year, half a trillion cups of coffee are consumed around the world.  Of a $2 cup of coffee, about one cent ends up in the hand of the coffee farmer living in an impoverished country.  It would cost that farmer a day's wages to afford a cappuccino.  Coffee provides a livelihood for 25 million people around the world, and 100 million total depend on its trade.With the growth of the specialty coffee market pioneered by Starbucks and powered by local coffee roasters, there is increasing visibility of conditions for coffee growers and their environment.  The good news is that for a very small premium we can make choices in how and where we buy coffee that make a very big difference.