BIO & SPECIALTY COFFEE
Better conditions. Cup by cup.
That is why we are committed.
We love coffee. But unfortunately, the coffee market today does not function sustainably. A few big coffee traders and brands dominate the supply chain. They rely on mass-produced goods and keep the price of coffee as low as possible. What does that do to the millions of coffee producers? They can't even cover their growing costs in certain years when prices are low. That's unfair. They produce coffee mainly conventionally instead of organically and in agroforestry systems. This is bad for nature and the climate. We need to change the coffee market. Together with you. And we need to do it now. Better conditions for the planet and the producers. Cup by cup. That's the plan.
Sustainably good coffee. For all.
Finished with half measures. We want everyone to consume good, eKô-logical and fair coffee. For the protection of nature and climate. For a better life for the producers. And for real taste. How can we do that? With less standard and more eKô coffee. With our fair trade organic & specialty coffee we want to move the coffee market towards more sustainability and more taste. Together with you as a consumer, we can do that. Let's drink eKô coffee together and make the coffee market better. Our vision? Sustainably good coffee. For all.
Where we want to go.
We come to you. To the supermarket.
How do we make the coffee market better? We go to the places where the big volumes are sold. We bring organic, fair trade and specialty coffee to you in the supermarket. At the best possible price. Making sustainable and good coffee easily available for all. How do we succeed? We have a lean and efficient structure. For example, we roast our coffee beans on a large roaster. That saves money. Money that we can use to pay our coffee cooperatives a fair price. We also promote the cultivation of coffee in sustainable agroforestry systems. That tastes good to us, and hopefully good to you, too. As good as our eKô coffee.
How we do it.
COOPERATIVES WE WORK WITH
COOPFAM
BRAZIL
Founded | 1986
Number of members | more than 400
Ø Coffee cultivation area per producer | 5ha
Altitude of cultivation | 860-1800m
Certifications | EU Organic, USADA/NOP, Fairtrade
Processing | Natural / Sun dried
Sustainability projects |
Citizen School Project. High-quality educational courses for children of members of the cooperative.
Partnership between Coopfam and the local government to promote women in the coffee sector.
COSAGUAL
HONDURAS
Founded | 1994
Number of members | 145
Ø Coffee cultivation area per producer | 4.5ha
Altitude of cultivation | 860-1800m
Certifications | EU Organic, Bio Suisse, USADA/NOP, Fairtrade
Processing | Natural / Sun dried
Sustainability projects |
Conversion to agroforestry. Cultivation of coffee together with bananas, fruit trees and shade trees.
Production of organic fertilizer from coffee processing by-products.
ANEI
COLOMBIA
Founded | 1995
Number of members | more than 600
Ø Coffee cultivation area per producer | 4-5ha
Altitude of cultivation | 1400-2000m
Certifications | EU Organic, USADA/NOP, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade
Processing | Fully washed
Sustainability projects |
Strengthening indigenous cultures in the region. Support for autonomous, indigenous administrative structures.
Construction of a biofertilizer plant to improve soil fertility and increase productivity in coffee production.
INPROCAFE
PERU
Founded | 2014
Number of members | more than 800
Ø Coffee cultivation area per producer | 0.5-2ha
Altitude of cultivation | 1550-2000m
Certifications | EU Organic, USADA/NOP, JAS, Fairtrade
Processing | Fully washed
Sustainability projects |
Installation of solar dryers to improve the drying process and reduce post-harvest losses.
Train members on sustainable farming methods, harvest planning, and drying techniques.
BIO
Organic is better than conventional. We are convinced of that. Organic farming does not use synthetic pesticides. Organic also means compost instead of artificial fertilizers. And finally, organic farming means a sustainable use of water and soil resources as well as the promotion of biodiversity. This benefits nature and the climate. But also the producers, who have to apply less critical pesticides and receive an organic premium. And consumers, who receive a natural product.
That is why our green coffee comes exclusively from organic certified cooperatives and our products carry the EU organic label. However, we are aware that there are also challenges in organic cultivation. For example, higher production costs. Or lower yields in the first years of conversion from conventional to organic. In addition, organic certification can be difficult for smallholder coffee producers, who have to comply with many standards and document processes. To address these challenges, we work closely with our organic-certified cooperatives.
And although we think organic is good, it is not enough for us in the medium term. We believe that there is a need for measures in coffee cultivation that go beyond organic certification. In the future, coffee should increasingly be grown in sustainable agroforestry systems. In this type of cultivation, coffee is grown in mixed forests, for example together with bananas, fruit trees and shade trees. This improves soil fertility and stores CO2. And it generates additional income for the producers, as they can sell bananas, other fruits and wood in addition to coffee. That is why we will promote the cultivation of coffee in such sustainable agroforestry systems. Directly on site. So that organic agriculture eventually becomes regenerative agriculture.
Organic is better. For all.
Supports smallholders.
All coffee producers deserve a fair income for their work. This is especially important for small producers. They produce about 80% of the world's coffee, but are often economically disadvantaged. They live and work mainly in rural areas and do not have access to the same resources and markets as large commercial farms. As a result, they generally receive lower prices for their coffee than large farms.
For us, sustainability in the coffee sector begins with improving the financial situation of smallholders. That is why not only organic, but also fair trade is our priority. We purchase our green coffee exclusively from Fairtrade certified coffee cooperatives. These consist of small producers. Individual large coffee plantations cannot be Fairtrade certified. Fairtrade thus specifically supports smallholders.
But what are the advantages of a Fairtrade certification? Fairtrade sets a minimum price that producers receive for their coffee. Even if the world market price falls below it. In addition, Fairtrade certified cooperatives receive a premium for the coffee they sell. This allows them to implement community development projects. For example, they can build schools, invest in coffee growing infrastructure, or improve access to health facilities.
Of course, there are also challenges with Fairtrade: Smallholders often face considerable costs and additional work for documentation and certification. And some smallholders still do not achieve a living income despite Fairtrade certification.
It is of great importance to us that we pay coffee prices that enable the producers to earn a living income. We are therefore in exchange with Fairtrade International and base our coffee prices on the Living Income Reference Prices Fairtrade has defined. This is an important step forward. So that coffee producers receive the income they deserve.
FAIRTRADE
SUSTAINABILITY ROADMAP
Der Temperamentvolle für einen perfekten Espresso. Er offenbart eine unvergleichliche Geschmacksfülle, eine harmonisch abgerundete Intensität und eine Dichte belebender Aromen.
Roadmap kann noch animiert werden.
2000
Der Temperamentvolle für einen perfekten Espresso.
2005
Der Temperamentvolle für einen perfekten Espresso.
2010
Der Temperamentvolle für einen perfekten Espresso.
2015
Der Temperamentvolle für einen perfekten Espresso.
HEUTE
Der Temperamentvolle für einen perfekten Espresso.
Sustainable partnerships.
As equals.
For our eKô coffee, we work with cooperatives from Brazil, Honduras, Colombia and Peru. But why these cooperatives in particular? On the one hand, of course, because they are certified organic and fair trade. But also because the cooperatives really take the issue of sustainability seriously and carry out projects that go beyond organic and fair trade certification. For example, some promote the implementation of sustainable agroforestry systems in coffee cultivation. Others are specifically committed to the empowerment of women and the promotion of indigenous culture. Or they invest in health and education projects.
Of course, the quality of the green coffee and the taste profile are also elementary for the selection of cooperatives. After all, we don't just make sustainable coffee, but fair trade, organic and specialty coffee that tastes great.
And why do the cooperatives want to work with us? They can rely on us. We strive for partnerships as equals. Long-term partnerships based on respect, trust and shared values. We pay fair prices. And we will invest directly in sustainability projects in the future. To make a difference directly on the ground together with the cooperatives.
eKô LUNGO
A medium roast with a balanced flavour profile. The coffee pairs the sweetness of chocolate and caramel with a subtle note of citrus. Perfect for a large cup of coffee.
100% Arabica
Origin of the coffee: 40% Brazil, 30% Colombia, 30% Peru
Roasting degree: 2/5
COFFEE BEANS
eKô ESPRESSO
A dark roast with a full-bodied taste of chocolate, nut and caramel. Perfect for an espresso or a cappuccino.
100% Arabica
Origin of the coffee: 50% Brazil, 30% Peru, 20% Honduras
Roasting degree: 4/5
COFFEE BEANS
What is Specialty Coffee?
Specialty Coffee is coffee of the highest quality. Coffee is evaluated in professional tastings, so-called cuppings, according to the classification of the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association). Coffees with a cupping score of at least 80 out of a total of 100 possible points are considered Specialty Coffee. The cupping score is determined by certified Q-Graders. In our team, Diego is in charge of the cuppings. He has been trained as an Arabica Q-Grader, which allows him to evaluate the coffees. For our eKô Espresso and eKô Lungo we only use Specialty Coffee. This is because, in addition to the topic of sustainability, quality is also a top priority for us.
Where can I buy eKô coffee?
You can find our eKô Espresso and eKô Lungo in around 300 Coop stores throughout Switzerland. And at www.coop.ch. Direct links to our products on www.coop.ch: eKô Espresso, eKô Lungo.
Ekô Kollektiv SA
Ergolzstrasse 18
4133 Pratteln
Switzerland