Why Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee Matters and What Benefits It Offers

What is the real price of coffee? When it comes to your bottom line and to satisfying your daily coffee habit, we need to consider several things beyond the cost of the coffee itself: the environmental impact of coffee beans, the conditions of workers, and how coffee moves from the field to your cup.

FrontStreet Coffee believes that whether you make coffee at home or pay a barista to prepare it, you should consider looking for Rainforest Alliance certified coffee. Why recommend this type of coffee, and what does it stand for? Among FrontStreet Coffee's bean selection there is indeed one Rainforest Alliance certified specialty coffee, and that is Jamaica's Blue Mountain Coffee.

Why certification?

Sustainability is an important part of protecting the environment. But why should you bother buying Rainforest Alliance certified coffee, and what impact does it have on the coffee you drink?

To mark Environment Day, let's take an in-depth look at Rainforest Alliance certified coffee. The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) with over 30 years of experience, working in more than 80 countries worldwide to help protect the environment, conserve biodiversity, and promote the rights and welfare of workers, their families, and communities.

The Rainforest Alliance helps create a world where people and nature coexist in harmony.

So what are the benefits of Rainforest Alliance certified coffee?

Coffee is the second most popular beverage after water and the second best-selling product after oil.

What is Rainforest Alliance certified coffee?

Shoppers want what they purchase to be more sustainable and transparent. They want to know where their products come from, what the working conditions are like, how the manufacturing process affects the environment, and more.

What does this mean for coffee?

When coffee receives Rainforest Alliance certification, it means the coffee is produced according to strict standards that protect the environment, empower producers, and support local communities.

Rainforest Alliance certified coffee benefits everyone in the supply chain: farmers and workers can achieve sustainable livelihoods, brands can offer quality products, retailers can manage risk and become industry leaders, and consumers can purchase according to their values and trust the brands they buy.

How Rainforest Alliance certified coffee benefits the environment

When purchasing conventional coffee, there is a risk that workers and the environment may be exploited. Common problems on non-Rainforest Alliance farms include water pollution, deforestation, use of genetically modified organisms and harmful pesticides, and forced or child labor.

Workers on non-Rainforest Alliance farms enjoy minimal rights, lack facilities and basic resources, and are often exposed to harmful chemicals. On Rainforest Alliance farms, however, certain standards must be met.

When you purchase Rainforest Alliance certified coffee, the coffee is grown with consideration for biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability.

The Rainforest Alliance enforces standards to ensure effective water use and to enhance farm biodiversity, but most importantly, no deforestation.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Among FrontStreet Coffee's beans, the one that carries Rainforest Alliance certification is FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1, from the historic Clifton Estate in Jamaica's Blue Mountain region. Clifton Farm is the only farm in Jamaica with Rainforest Alliance certification, which can only be earned by meeting the Sustainable Agriculture System Standards, and its wooden barrels carry the rainforest certification logo. The estate's planting and processing areas sit at an average altitude of 4300 feet (1310.64 meters), where sufficient altitude, gentle afternoon clouds shading the mountain forests, ample sunlight and mineral-rich soil give the trees ideal growing conditions and lengthen the ripening of the cherries.

FrontStreet Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 is the highest grade of Jamaica Blue Mountain, medium-dark roasted to a deep, balanced cup with no harsh acidity and no heavy bitterness. It shows cream, caramel, chocolate, nuts and honey with a light fruit lift, a smooth round entry, rich mid-palate sweetness and a clean, long finish. FrontStreet Coffee suggests brewing with a Kono dripper, 15g of coffee at a 1:15 ratio and 87-88°C water, a grind slightly coarser than for light roasts, and a three-stage pour with a 30-second bloom to 30g, a second pour to 120g and a final pour to 225g. Moka pot or espresso also work well, intensifying the chocolate, caramel and nut notes while keeping the signature balance.