October the 1st is International Coffee Day!
Launched in 2015 by the International Coffee Organization, International Coffee Day is a day not only to celebrate the joy of coffee, but to reflect on and talk about the issues we face as an industry.
With this day just around the corner, we'd like to share a bit about little things we do as our share of making coffee's future better.
We Became a Member of World Coffee Research This Year
We visited Ethiopia last year as our very first origin trip, and it was eye-opening and humbling- we have been trying our best to trade fair and direct as much as possible, but compared to the sheer amount of contribution global big-names such as Nestlé and Starbucks, what we can offer as an independent coffee roaster was simply not enough.
Since coming back to Japan feeling somewhat defeated, we have been thinking hard what we can do to be a part of positive changes for the future.
This year, we are proud to share that we became a seed member of World Coffee Research, a non-profit, collaborative research and development program of the global coffee industry.
Together we are stronger- through this project, we joined 190+ members around the world to make a difference for the better.
Becoming a member of the WCR did not just help us gaining access to make contribution to the industry, but also reminds us to be more conscious and connected to our mission through our daily routines.
Learn more about World Coffee Research (Official website)
We also launched our sister brand, 2050 COFFEE, to expand the specialty coffee to mass market, while raising awareness of 2050 crisis.
We Source Our Beans Responsibly
People say, choosing where to buy from is like casting a vote.
As a coffee roaster, we stay mindful that what we buy and how we buy matter. We only partner with importers with philosophies and ethics we resonate with, such as GOOD COFFEE FARMS or SYU-HA-RI, whose focus is always the coffee producers and to build a close relationship with them, with respect for their works and stories.
While doing so, we also have been building our own relationship directly with the producers and exporters, such as ZEM Coffee and Catalyst Trade in Ethiopia.
Blog article: Our Love Letter to Ethiopia Hamasho and Its Trader: Catalyst
A little-known fun fact: Ernane Pereira Carneiro Yellow Catucai Natural from Brazil we use in our House Blend Dark and House Blend Medium are produced completely machine-free at all production stages.
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| House Blend Dark | House Blend Medium |
We Reuse, Recycle & Upcycle
At Kurasu, we recycle coffee grinds collaborating with our local project, mame-eco. They are recycled to be used as a compost, supplying local farmers and gardeners.
We also use coffee grinds as an air freshener, using Coffee Deodorizer Pot, and use 618 scallop powder cleanser for cleaning.
Along with the deodorizer pot, we have several more eco-friendly and sustainable products on our shelves.
Featured in the video:
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| Guatemala Jalapa Cascara |
On this year's International Coffee Day, join us to celebrate and appreciate the love and community coffee has given us, and discuss what each of us can do to give back to this amazing gift from earth.
