OUR MISSION
Café do Paraíso was founded on the belief that companies have the power to be the change we want to see in the world. Which is why our goal is to become the most transparent and environmentally friendly coffee company in the world, to use strategic giving campaigns to make a direct impact ourselves, educate consumers about how change the world in their own communities as well as to be the change by voting with their dollars and time in many other ways. We also want to create the tastiest cup of specialty coffee our customers have ever tasted.
Ethical & Sustainable Coffee
Organic coffees come from over 40 countries around the world. The organic attribute certifies that the farmer growing the coffee passed an annual organic certification test which costs $700-$3,000/ year. Organic coffees carry a higher market price due to the extra time required to have a farm and the farm’s agricultural processes inspected for certification. The organic label only pertains to sustainable agricultural practices relating to the environmental impact on the farm and how the plants are grown, harvested, and processed. Organic labels do not pertain to worker’s rights, fair trade, or other environmental indicators outside of the farm or outside of what is required for the certification. To learn more view the SCAA sustainable coffee certifications comparison matrix.
Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification is one of the most well respected certifications for coffee in the world. Rainforest Alliance coffee certification requirements integrate biodiversity conservation, community development, workers’ rights and productive agricultural practices to ensure comprehensive sustainable farm management. The scope of the certification includes more than 200 criteria (checkpoints); Field-tested indicators. It applies to farms and coops of all sizes. Continuous improvement is required of RA Certified farms. To learn more view the SCAA sustainable coffee certifications comparison matrix.
The Fair Trade label aims to support a better life for farming families in the developing world through fair prices, access to direct trade, community development and environmental stewardship. It works to ensure farmers receive the minimum price and social premium to cover costs of production and community elected development programs. Fair Trade brings an organic premium for organic coffees. The model empowers small farmers organized into democratically-run cooperatives to compete on a global scale. To learn more view the SCAA sustainable coffee certifications comparison matrix.
Direct Trade is a process by which a coffee roaster purchases coffee beans directly from the farmers that grow them. The certification process is entirely up to the roaster who may visit an inspect the farm to ensure the quality of the beans matches their standards for quality, processing, and ethical production. Direct Trade coffee by-passes middle-men and sometimes certification companies as well. Coffees we purchase and import directly from the farm will be labeled as such with our Direct Trade label and we will provide information describing the farms and why we purchased from them.
UTZ Certified, although less well known in the United States, is similar to Rainforest Alliance certification due to its holistic and comprehensive certification process that is aimed at achieving sustainable agricultural supply chains, where: Producers are professionals implementing good practices which enable better businesses, livelihoods and environments; The Food industry takes responsibility by demanding and rewarding sustainably grown products; Consumers buy products which meet their standard for social and environmental responsibility. UTZ works to improve environmental standards to help preserve wildlife and soils; Worker Health and Safety, prohibiting child labor and insuring access to schools, clean water, housing. Web-based traceability systems, with on line links to producers. To learn more view the SCAA sustainable coffee certifications comparison matrix.
Many coffees around the world are grown by small land holding farmers who combine their harvests with other local farmers to create higher quality products and compete in international markets. These farmer cooperatives often have their own unique quality standards and rules for ensuring environmental sustainability, economic growth & development for the farmers in the region, and fair social rights & working conditions for everyone involved. When buying from any Sustainable Coop we ensure origin traceability acquire first-hand or trusted second-hand documentation to verify the cooperatives have excellent programs and processes to ensure they meet our high ethical, sustainability, and quality standards.
Many farms maintain excellent ethical and environmental standards but don’t pay for third party certifications for their beans. And just because a farm doesn’t carry a Rainforest Alliance or UTZ label it doesn’t mean they might have more sustainable or ethical practices than other farms that do. When we purchase coffee from farms without certifications we will always endeavor to learn as much as we can about the farms to verify they meet our ethical, sustainability, and quality standards.
SOURCE TRACEABILITY
We buy our coffees in one of two ways. Either by direct trade from a farm that we know and trust, or from a trusted importer who we also know well and trust. The first beans we ever purchased were by direct trade where we imported the beans from Brazil directly to our warehouse. Our current stock of beans however are from our trusted importer OLAM Specialty Coffee out of Healdsburg California who can trace and verify beans directly to their farm or coop of origin.
SPECIALTY ROASTING
Our beans are specialty roasted by hand in our Las Vegas Coffee Roaster warehouse located just off the strip to maximize the unique flavor profile of every bean and ensure we give you the best quality coffee possible. After roasting and cooling, our beans are immediately bagged and prepared for shipping. By the time your beans reach your home they will have rested for 12-24 hours to achieve optimal flavor before brewing. Every bag of beans will have a “Roasted on” date. Beans should ideally be consumed within 2 weeks of delivery and ground only immediately before brewing.
OPEN SUPPLY CHAIN
We believe that transparency is the key to improving the quality of our products and the power of our customers to make better decisions when they vote with their dollars. Knowing where the products you buy come from and how they are produced is a cornerstone of a healthy economy in which consumers have the power to create a positive impact on society when they use their purchasing decisions for good, to support sustainable and ethical companies. We want to go beyond ethical and proactively educate our customers about the importance of understanding where products come from and the massive power we all have to make a difference in this world when we are conscious and mindful about which businesses to support and why.