Developing a Philosophy.

Why it's a good idea.

I head out to Uganda early next month. This will be my first supplier visit since the pandemic and it’s well overdue.

Whilst preparing for the trip, I have been reflecting on how things have changed since my last buying trip and it got me reaching for a book that has provided me with a heavy amount of guidance since I first discovered it, well over 4 years ago.

Dear coffee buyer by Ryan Brown provided somewhat of an epiphany for me in my search for literature on how to buy green coffee, until I discovered this wonderfully written thesis on green coffee buying I felt a little lost in my search. My mission to find quality coffee was strong but I needed some direction, what I found in the pages was a philosophy. It was reassuring to know that I was on the right track but it confirmed where I needed to go next, and I have managed to build some strong relationships on the back of these principles.

My idea has always been simple, to work with importers who have a true connection with the coffee-growing countries and regions they are supplying from. My experience to date with this way of buying has allowed me to gain valuable insight into the impact my purchasing decisions have on the communities I buy from and how important it is to communicate this to our customers. My philosophy is to buy quality coffee whilst sharing the stories of the people who grow it, making positive impacts where we can.

Direct trade is a term I struggle with in our industry. It is a term that is loosely thrown around with no real backup to support it. There are so many moving parts in the coffee supply chain that the true definition of direct trade is almost impossible to achieve. Making sure that everyone involved is adding true value at every step is what is important and needed. This will always be a work in progress but is fundamental for the future of coffee farming and quality coffee.

Dear coffee buyer is a great book if you are a coffee buyer, however, I would recommend it to anyone who is a lover of coffee. It is beautifully illustrated and covers a range of insightful topics that all coffee drinkers will find interesting. There is a little bit of joy in the pages for everyone.

There will be some incredible coffees and stories to share over the coming months. Autumn is on its way and is a great time of year for a coffee buyer. Coffee has been landing slightly later than expected this year but it’s starting to arrive…
I look forward to sharing my trip to Uganda in the coming weeks.

Cheers

Burts.