Larry's Beans

As you know, coffee is very important to me. I plan vacations accordingly. Okay, I plan my whole life accordingly. I consume an unhealthy amount of coffee. I have been on a quest, seeking a coffee that is affordable, organic, fair trade, shade grown, and delicious. I would also prefer my coffee be produced by a company that only produces coffee that meets these requirements rather than producing several conventional coffee varieties and one that happens to be triple certified. And, it would be nice if I really believed in the company and truly wanted to support them. I am insanely loyal to Organic Valley dairy products, for example, because I really believe in their company. I want to fill my morning cup with coffee and cream I can believe in! Yesterday I discovered Larry's Beans. This morning I experienced Larry's beans. Then I researched Larry's beans. I think I'm in love! I am enjoying the 'Frank Sumatra' variety today. It was 7.99 for a 12oz bag. The beans are organically grown in the shade and purchased at a fair price. Then they are roasted using passive solar energy in a warehouse that is operating at nearly 100% sustainability. The beans are packaged in a biodegradable bag that will become compost for my garden at some point. The company delivers coffee locally(not here unfortunately) in a van fueled by veggie oil. This company is so committed to it's ideologies they created a separate website on sustainability. My favorite aspect of this company? These guys have a sense of humor. Check out Larry's Beans by clicking on 'Larry's Beans' at the top of this post! Now, this is coffee I can believe in!

My new discovery: Agave Nectar

My weekly trip for coffee essentials is never easy. Sure. The list seems simple enough: Coffee, Cream, Sugar. But once I'm in the coffee aisle, the deliberation begins. Should I buy whole bean or ground? My choices are considerably limited if I choose whole bean-although I prefer it. Should I buy Certified Organic, Fair Trade, or Rain Forest Certified? I have yet to find a coffee brand that can brag all three. Initially I am attracted to the Organic choices. There are usually two or three. But, would I rather support sustainable farming practices, or would I rather support the practice of giving poor farmers a fair price for their product? I ultimately will choose fair trade over organic if there isn't a brand that is both. And finally, do I choose the Organic or Fair Trade product offered by the huge company that also offers 27 other non-organic non-fair trade products? Or, do I choose the company that offers nothing else? I settle on the company that offers nothing but organic or fair trade coffee even though it is always more expensive. Whew. Now, cream. I have settled upon an organic cream produced by a co-op of family farmers. Organic Valley http://www.organicvalley.coop/ is hands down the most delicious, sweet cream on the market. And, bonus, decidedly sustainable. That was easy! On to the baking aisle to consider all of my sweetening options. I have ruled out white baking sugar and artificial sweeteners. I do, however, pause and consider the organic sugar vs. the sugar in the raw. Sugar in the raw is less processed. But, the organic sugar is. . well. . organic. I have two choices: Just like the coffee, a large sugar company that has 10 different products on the market and just happens to have one organic product vs. the much more expensive organic sugar company that makes nothing else. Sigh. But wait! there is another option. Agave nectar, something I just recently discovered, is the perfect choice. http://www.madhavasagave.com Madhavas honey company in Colorado offers an organic, sustainably farmed agave nectar. The agave plant is not harmed in the extraction process, and most of the plants from which the nectar is harvested are growing wild on privately owned lands, so there is no habitat or ecosystem disruption in the farming process. Decidedly sustainable - But a little pricey. Now, to find the perfect coffee. . still searching.