SMFFFFFFsssttT, AHHHHH…HOT! And ohh, so good! You already know what I’m drinking…
That was me, sipping my first cup of coffee in a quite a while. Well, actually, I had coffee this past weekend, but it was of the freeze dried variety — samples I received in the mail at some point and had saved for just such an emergency. They tided me over, but really, blech. So it’s actually been a while.
And I’m actually using a cup and saucer, like in the picture, which I never do, but this cup of coffee is special, you see. No, I’m not — I just liked that stock photo. Alright, yes I am, but it’s just a coincidence.
I had run out of coffee (which just should not happen; I love coffee!) a couple of weeks ago and I had planned to replace this item with a more sustainable, socially responsible coffee. I just had not gone to my local Trader Joe’s since then, and after work yesterday (after work, going home is often the best option — but is it home without coffee?), I bit the bullet and made the actually short trek to the store. Not that I couldn’t go to a few other stores for such coffee, but I had already paroused those at Trader Joe’s a while back, and frankly, I was sold.
When I arrived home, I wanted to brew some coffee right away, but managed to hold myself back for I knew it would be better in the morning, and if I were to drink it at night, I would not get enough sleep in order to awake soon enough to actually brew and enjoy my morning cup of joe.
I found many Fair-Trade, Organic coffees at Trader Joe’s, but finally settled on an extra dark roasted bean, 
Trader Joe’s Organic, Fair Trade Café Pajaro Blend, from small family farms in Nicaragua, Peru, and southern Mexico (just to give some detail of exactly what it is), which I ground in the same aisle of the store (I really should get my own grinder for fresher coffee, but then again, more consumption, sigh…).
I brewed my coffee using my French press, so it’s extra strong, and I of course employed my tea kettle for boiling the water. Yeah, I’m about to make myself puke for patting myself on the back, but just as a reminder, using a tea kettle can save energy!
I just wanted to share this because, not only is the cup extra good because it’s been so very long since I had a cup of coffee, but I also feel good about the purchase because the coffee was produced organically, meaning less environmental degradation due to chemical use, and because the small family farms were paid fair price for their crop, which is the socially responsible thing.
No, I don’t feel like I’m better than anyone for drinking this coffee (still consuming a coffee shipped from far, far away!), and I am very reluctant to write soft posts like this one, but I share this just to encourage you to make similar decisions. The next time your coffee runs out, consider switching over to a fair trade, organic variety. Make other changes of products in your life: organic really is better for the earth. No, I’m not better, but the coffee sure is!
My can of coffee cost me a similar price to other brands I have bought in the past, but because of the way it was grown and the way the farmers were paid, I literally am enjoying my coffee even more. The more small changes in your life you make like this, the bigger changes you will be prepared to take on, the more positive influence you can have on your peers who will likely follow at least some of the examples given. While the sensation of that first sip of coffee after a long drought is likely to tire, the luster of a more envirohumanly friendly coffee will unlikely fade.
SmfftthhT AHHHHH…Coffee!!!
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