Our Products

We believe in offering our customers only the premium type of coffee. As such, we only use and sell Arabica beans, which are known for their great flavor and aroma, and are preferred by gourmet coffee shops. All the coffee that we sell and serve are also Organic and Fair Trade Certified, and some are also Shade-Grown. Some coffee shops tout themselves for offering Arabica beans, others for offering Organic coffee, and some for offering Fair Trade Certified coffee. At Frescaroma Specialty Delights, we distinguish ourselves from our competitors by offering all three attributes in the same coffee blend. As a matter of fact, the coffee we serve in all our drip coffee and espresso drinks are from Arabica beans, Organic, and Fair Trade Certified.

Arabica Beans

Arabica beans have the best aroma and flavor, and are used in most specialty and gourmet coffee shops. They are preferred by customers who want real quality in their coffee and don't mind paying a premium price. Please see our FAQ on Facts About Coffee to discover more about the major types of coffee.

Organic Certified Coffee

Organic coffees are grown in high altitudes, where the plants are cultivated without the use of harmful pesticides, and thus are healthier for human consumption. This natural way of cultivating coffee plants contributes to the preservation of our natural rainforests, and eventually, to a Greener World. By not affecting the ecological system, farmers who cultivate Organic coffee plants thus do not endanger rare birds and wildlife. In turn, all these benefits contribute to the preservation of our natural resources, so that they can be enjoyed by future generations.

Fair Trade Certified Coffee

There are 2 ways that coffee products get from farmers to consumers.

In conventional coffee trade routes which are generally used by multi-national corporations, coffee growers typically consist of small family farmers or estate workers in large plantations. The coffee growers and harvesters are typically severely underpaid by middlemen traders or plantation owners who provide them with meager wages and poor living and healthcare conditions. These coffee farmers typically survive in a continuous cycle of debt and poverty.

The coffee that is grown through these methods then travel through a circuitous route via various exporters and commodity brokers who control the worldwide buying and selling of coffee at great profits. Local importers then purchase the coffee at prices set forth by the commodity brokers regardless of the prices or wages the original farmers were paid for the coffee. In the conventional coffee route, large producers and transnational corporations have access to global markets, large capitals and technology, while plantation workers and small coffee farmers are isolated from the market and unable to gain access to the full benefits of "free" trade. From the importers, the coffee is then typically sent on down to roasters, then distributors to retailers, and finally arrives in the hands of the consumer. Some roasters have their own retail stores, allowing them to bypass distributors.

On the other hand, Fair Trade enables local coffee cooperatives to bypass the middleman and sell directly to US importers at guaranteed fair prices. In this route, over half a million coffee farmers are members of cooperatives who sell the coffee direct to Fair Trade importers in Europe and North America. Using this method, farmers are able to bypass the middlemen and broker and are able to earn 3 to 5 times as much as they will receive by selling their coffee through conventional means. Importers are able to buy directly from Fair Trade certified cooperatives and pay the Fair Trade guaranteed minimum price ($1.26 per pound; $1.41 for certified organic) or higher. Compare that with what the multi-national firms pay for their coffee, which is usually at $ 0.50 per pound.

The close relationship that importers have with the cooperatives ensures that the cooperatives are provided with information on the US coffee market and can receive credit from the importers when requested. Importers certified by TransFair USA then sell their Fair Trade Certified coffee to roasters. Roasters who buy from importers certified by TransFair USA are allowed to use the "Fair Trade Certified" label on their products. Through marketing and consumer education, they also teach their customers about Fair Trade. From the roasters, the coffee is sometimes channeled through distributors then to retailers and then into the hands of the consumers.

Frescaroma is proud to aid in this effort by providing our customers with various Fair Trade coffee options and helping educate our customers on the benefits of continuing to support the purchase of Fair Trade Certified products. We believe it is our responsibility to support Fair Trade practices so that both farmers and consumers get into a mutually-beneficial relationship.

Consumers can play a vital role and be the large driving force in the worldwide Fair Trade movement by creating and sustaining demand for Fair Trade Certified coffee as well as other Fair Trade products.