GUEST BLOG: Why I Drink 963
by Christine Bailey

My husband, Steven, and I…we’re coffee people. Every morning, we carefully weigh the beans on a scale, grind them fresh in a burr grinder, and then create the perfect brew in our Bodum Santos Coffee Maker that resembles a contraption from Mr. Wizard’s World. A little snobbish? Perhaps. But when you learn how to brew that perfect cup, there’s nothing like it. Believe it or not, over 80% of Americans drink coffee. Yet, so many drink their daily cup ignorantly, not realizing their choice in coffee is directly affecting coffee farmers in third world nations.

Here are a few facts about coffee that might shock you:

• Americans consume more coffee than any other nation – about 2.3 billion pounds a year!

 

• Behind oil, coffee is 2nd most traded commodity in the world.
• However, unlike the oil industry, coffee producers live in extreme poverty. Why?
• The top 5 coffee buyers (Starbucks, Nestle, Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, and Sara Lee) drive the coffee prices down because they are the biggest buyers in the world, and they can. This leaves the coffee farmer in a small cooperative with barely anything – bringing in an average of only $500 per year because they are not paid a fair wage. Yes, $500 per year.

The 963 Coffee Project is on a mission to change the way coffee farmers in third world nations are being forced to live. Kerry already gave 963 a great intro, but I thought I’d tell you a bit more about the company, since my husband runs it and it’s obviously near and dear to my heart. 963 Missions was founded 6 years ago to connect individuals and groups to mission opportunities worldwide, while also providing resources and affordable mission travel. 963 employees also happen to love coffee. As they started to learn the truth about coffee farmers not being paid a fair wage, they thought they could use their connections to do something about it. 963 works with hundreds of churches and organizations who do mission and relief work in third world countries, and many of these contacts are looking for ways to do fundraisers. The 963 Coffee Project was born as a way to reach out to the coffee communities like those in Central/South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, improve their lives, and allow churches/organizations to use the coffee as a fundraiser, much like you would sell Girl Scout Cookies!

The connection really makes sense. Unsafe drinking water is the #1 killer in the world, making water the essential beverage for millions of people. But here in America, the “essential” beverage is coffee. For every American coffee drinker, there is one worker elsewhere in the world who depends on coffee for their day-to-day survival. 963 is using their coffee to fund projects like clean water wells in the very communities where coffee is grown. By working directly with the cooperatives in those countries, they can help the people sustain themselves.

In summer 2008, 963 is launching “Coffee Trips” so groups of people can travel to these countries, starting with Guatemala, visit the coffee farms, and start relationships with those communities by investing back.

If you’re not convinced yet, I thought I should also say that 963 Coffee is really, really, really good . This is coming from a guy (Steven) who used to drink caramel macchiatos from your local chain coffee shop, and a girl (me) who used to turn up her nose to anything that remotely smelled like coffee…even ice cream. It’s a far cry from the sawdust-infused Folgers my dad always drank, that’s for sure. Each bag also comes with a beautifully designed label showing the character of that region.

There are 3 blends of coffee and it’s all 100% Arabica, 100% Shade Grown specialty coffee from farmers who use organic farming methods: African Morning (light roast African blend), Triple Tango (medium roast Central/South American blend), and South Seas (dark roast Southeast Asian blend). They also have a Decaf (which I personally think tastes like dark chocolate), a flavored Cinnamon Crème Brulée, and a darn good old-fashioned 100% Pure Ghana Hot Cocoa called Cocoa Jambo!. All of the green beans are sent to Southern California, where they are freshly roasted to order. Mmmm.

I have to take a moment to give a shout-out to my favorite blend, Triple Tango. It’s rich enough to make your taste buds do a little tango but not so strong that it makes your toes curl early in the morning. South Seas, the darker roast, is usually what we brew during a late night of playing Cranium. You know, when your eyes are drooping but you can’t let the rest of the group down. African Morning – well, if you’ve been to Africa, then you know how beautiful the mornings are. This blend is reminiscent of this time of day, when you need to arise slowly.

The weather is getting colder, and now is the time to try something new! Here are a few ways you can get involved with 963 Coffee right now:

1. Drink it. You can purchase it by the bag at 963Coffee.com. You can even subscribe to the “Monthly Obsession” if you want to automatically be shipped fresh coffee each month. The Baileys will definitely be sending coffee as Christmas gifts this year!
2. Use it for a fundraiser. Buy it wholesale and then resell it to friends, people at work, church, or wherever! And let’s face it: everyone is sick of buying wrapping paper, poinsettias and lollypops.
3. Be an advocate for coffee farmers. Go on a trip this summer to visit a coffee farming community. Let 963 send you a copy of the coffee documentary, Black Gold, so you can share the story of coffee farmers with everyone you know. Tell all your friends to stop drinking crappy commercial coffee

Helping build a sustainable future for those living in poverty, while getting to enjoy a great daily cup of joe? I’ll drink to that.