Coffee Sourcing & Sustainability
We roast coffee, install equipment and train baristas, but coffee’s story begins thousands of miles—and many hands—before it reaches us. Farmers, pickers, processing teams, mills, exporters and people who have spent generations learning how to grow great coffee all shape what ends up in the cup.
We believe their expertise, cultural knowledge and stewardship of the land matter tremendously. Our job in Chicago is to roast and serve coffee in a way that respects all the work that came before us.
How we source coffee
Our sourcing framework centers on six priorities:
- Reducing carbon emissions
- Reducing deforestation
- Promoting human rights for farmers and farm workers
- Improving living-income opportunities for farmers
- Increasing adoption of regenerative agriculture
- Choosing coffee that tastes great
Our ethos, in plain English
Common Friends Coffee should create value beyond the cup.
Coffee should be sourced through supply chains where people are treated with dignity, farming families have a better opportunity to build sustainable livelihoods and the land is managed with the future in mind.
We also want to be honest about how coffee sourcing works. We do not own coffee farms, and we are not able to visit every producer whose coffee we roast. Most of our green coffee is purchased through trusted specialty-coffee importers and brokers who have spent years—often decades—building relationships in coffee-growing communities.
Our sourcing partners work with producers, cooperatives, mills, exporters and local teams at origin. They help provide visibility into where coffee comes from, how it is grown and the conditions surrounding the people who produce it. We choose partners who share our values and take those responsibilities seriously.
Taking care of the land
Coffee is agriculture, and great coffee starts with healthy land. We prioritize coffees connected to farming practices that protect soil, manage water responsibly, reduce erosion, encourage biodiversity and support the long-term health of coffee farms.
We strongly believe in regenerative agriculture. The basic idea is simple: farming should improve and protect the land rather than exhaust it. Healthier soil supports stronger plants, and healthier farms are better prepared for the future.
Reducing deforestation
We prioritize coffee supply chains committed to reducing and preventing deforestation. Forests should not need to disappear to make room for coffee. Protecting them helps preserve natural habitats, biodiversity, soil health and water systems throughout coffee-growing regions.
The farm is the heartbeat of the coffee industry, but everything surrounding the farm matters too.
Processing is part of the craft
Once coffee cherries are picked, there is still a tremendous amount of work ahead. Coffee can be washed, naturally processed, honey processed, fermented, dried and sorted in many different ways.
Processing has a major effect on flavor. Sweetness, fruit character, body, acidity and clarity can all be influenced by the decisions made after a coffee cherry leaves the tree. Good processing requires experience, infrastructure, patience and close attention to detail.
By the time green coffee reaches our roaster in Chicago, an incredible amount of work has already gone into it. Our job is not to cover that work up. Our job is to roast and serve the coffee in a way that respects the land, the processing and the people behind it.
Sustainability is about people too
Environmental responsibility is essential, but coffee is also a people business. Coffee production supports families and communities around the world. Farm workers, pickers, producers, mill teams and many others are responsible for the coffee we enjoy every morning.
We intentionally source through partners with established programs and relationships focused on responsible labor practices, community development, agricultural education and long-term improvements in coffee-producing regions. We look for programs that measure impact and are willing to keep improving, because sustainability should mean more than a badge on a coffee bag.
We will always be honest about coffee
There is a lot of marketing language in the coffee industry, and not all of it is helpful. Our story is straightforward: we choose experienced, responsible sourcing partners who have spent years building real relationships at origin.
We buy good coffee from supply chains we believe in. We pay attention to how the land is treated. We care about the people producing the coffee. We ask questions, and we keep learning.
Then we roast the coffee here in Chicago and share it with our friends.
Grown elsewhere. Roasted in Chicago. Shared with Common Friends.