15 Delicious Fair-Trade Coffees

No doubt you’ve heard the word ‘fair trade’ before. If you’ve found yourself wondering what it means, you’re not alone.

Fair Trade USA andand Fairtrade America are both non-profit organizations that certify goods such as coffee, chocolate and sugar in order to make sure the products are manufactured according to a set of strict standards that encourage environmental protection, as well as ensuring that the people involved in production were treated and paid fairly for their labor.

Since not every coffee company is fair trade, you might be better off brewing your own cup of ethical java. We’ve put together a list of coffee products that are certified by Fair Trade USA or Fairtrade America.

1. Tiny Footprint Coffee

Tiny Footprint Coffee uses 100% Arabica, Organic & Fair Trade coffee beans. $13.75

Callie Says: “This coffee is simply delicious. I’m very picky and selective when it comes to coffee, and this is by far one of the best roasts I’ve ever tried. Its not overly bold and tart like other dark roasts, and has a rich, slightly sweet, and smooth flavor. I usually use cream and sugar, but this is one of the few coffees that I could drink black. I will be definitely buying this again in the bigger 3-lb size.”

2. Kicking Horse Coffee 

Kicking Horse Coffee is sustainably grown, organic, and certified fairtrade. $9.49

E. Schwartz says: “I like these beans, but I use them in an espresso machine and they are a little too oily for my liking (and the grinder). The color of the beans is very dark for a medium roast (as well as the taste). I’d call them med/dark roast for sure. They do make a fine cup of espresso and Americano for sure…next I’ll use my Italian press to make some rich coffee.”

3. Equal Exchange Coffee 

Equal Exchange Coffee is 100% Arabica Coffee Sustainably Grown by Small-Scale Farmer Cooperatives in Latin America, Africa & Asia. Certified Organic by the USDA, Gourmet Quality, & Certified Kosher. $8.99.

Dawn says: “The coffee comes well-packaged in a traditional foil-lined bag that seals in freshness. It’s easy to peel open and can nicely be folded shut and secured with clamps that are a part of the package. Great for convenience and storage. The whole beans are nicely roasted and ready to be ground. This particular 12 ounce bag lasted the two of us about 9 days- but we are avid (almost alarmingly so) coffee drinkers. For a typical household I’d assume this bag would easily last 2 to 3 weeks. We tried this coffee with a drip coffee maker, French press, and electric coffee maker. It wasn’t quite dark enough to work with the drip coffee maker and the flavor was very mild and watery when paired with that method. The French press got the best flavor from this coffee and really allowed you to taste the mild nutty flavor. It almost has an almondy undertone. It’s not a sweet coffee and it certainly lacks a ‘punch’ that I appreciate. But it wasn’t bad and I’d highly recommend it for people who want something gentle but flavorful to wake up with.”

4. Jo Coffee 

5. AmazonFresh Coffee 

AmazonFresh Coffee is USDA organic. $23.69.

Matt says: “The first two bags of this were delicious, and this would have been a 5 star review if it weren’t for the third bag. The roasting/packaging quality control seems to be very hit or miss, as the third bag was awful. I opened it up and first noticed a smell that can best be described as dry black-eyed peas. I figured I’d give it a try anyway, though, as sometimes the smell is different than what you taste (the Sumatran is a good example).”

6. Fresh Roasted Coffee

7. Peak Performance Coffee

8. First Colony Discoveries 

9. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix

10. Ethical Bean Coffee 

Jonathan says: “The coffee itself is good, I drink espresso every morning but most roasts I buy are quality brands and I honestly can’t say I have a favorite or taste a huge difference in prepackaged coffee as they’re all good to me. The reason I would choose this is that they are reasonably priced and the brand supports good practices (Fair Trade and Certified Organic). Certified Organic for those who don’t know is different than Non-GMO Verified in that in addition to it prohibiting GMOs in all farming/processing, USDA Organic is also regulated by federal law and prohibits the use of chemical/synthetic fertilizers & pesticides, as well as artificial coloring flavoring and preservatives. aka it’s a better label to look for.”

11. Death Wish Coffee 

Death Wish Coffee is Certified Organic, and extremely strong. $15.19

Daniel Says: “This is excellent coffee, but it is very potent. It is potent even for me, and I drink coffee all day long. Yes, it is every bit as potent as advertised. Plus, it comes with cool stickers. But be warned: not everyone can handle this coffee. I work the night shift, and when I make a pot, a co-worker will have a cup. Just one cup is enough to make this person become EXTREMELY ANNOYING, talking non-stop, singing and making noises, drumming on the table and telling corny jokes. You have been warned.”

12. Java Planet Columbia Organic

Java Planet Certified Organic  is organic, fair trade, and cultivated to protect surrounding wildlife. $14.99

One user says: “I used for cold brew. Oily shiny beans. Fair to good taste, smooth and no bitter after taste: these are very personal, good for one and bad for another person. Somewhat lower acidity than other medium dark roast for acidity level like Don Pablo Organic Medium Dark Roast. Price is reasonable for the grade of coffee.”

13. Kicking Horse Horse Power 

Kicking Horse Horse Power is 100% GMO and pesticide free. $14.99.

One user says: “The color of the brew is deep and dark. There is no bitterness or sourness to speak of which is pretty remarkable. A mere touch of sourness came on later but it was very nominal. I’m not getting much off of this brew via nose or taste. It’s a little non-descript compared to Lucy Jo’s as well. It tastes soft and smooth with some whole milk added but all I’m picking up is the roasted flavor and some nuttiness. The body is full. The second cup was a little bit better than the first. I definitely feel the acid more here compared to Lucy Jo’s which isn’t surprising now. I doubt I’ll order this again since I was seeking a truly low-acid coffee produced for GERD sufferers. I typically mix some other favorite producers with low-acid beans so that it becomes more interesting and complex than a low-acid coffee on its own.”

14. Stone Street Coffee 

Stone Street Coffee is 100% Colombian Arabica. $14.24.

Cata says: “I bought this as a gift and the recipient was kind enough to let me try a cup. Not nearly as flavorful as I was expecting (although she may have made it a bit weaker then I prefer) but the subtlety may have been a good thing as the flavor is not entirely what I expected either. I was hoping for something like a Starbucks praline flavor which this certainly is not… more of a general nuttyness and not much in the way of sweet notes. Which is fine. I don’t think I’d enjoy trying to get through an entire bag of it though (luckily it’s not for me…and she said that she liked it.. so, win?). I would like to try other flavors from this brand in the future.”

15. OD Coffee 

OD Coffee is USDA Organic. $8.29

James says: “This coffee is so good!! I have tried the Guatemalan and Honduras too. Love all 3! So happy I found this coffee company on Amazon.”

Coffee Recipes

Of course, once you have coffee, it’s important to know what do do with it! Check out these exciting coffee recipes courtesy of the Food Monster App.

Pumpkin Spice Latte With Homemade Pumpkin Seed Milk [Vegan, Grain-Free]

This Pumpkin Spice Latte With Homemade Pumpkin Seed Milk from Courtney West! The latte is a concoction of the pumpkin seed milk, pumpkin spiced maple simple syrup, and cold brew concentrate. Though this may seem a little involved for a coffee drink, the recipe will make enough for about 4 drinks, so you can keep sipping on PSLs all week long.

2. The Healthiest Peppermint Mocha [Vegan]

This has to be The Healthiest Peppermint Mocha you’ll ever find – thank you, Caroline Doucet!. Not only is it sweetened with dates only, but this drink is also blended with cashews for a frothy milk-free finish. The cashews make it perfectly creamy without the milk, plus they add a good dose of healthy fats. Add some unsweetened cocoa powder and a drop of peppermint extract and you’ve got yourself a delicious healthy holiday drink.

3. Maple Cinnamon Latte [Vegan, Gluten-Free]

Christine DesRoches’ Maple Cinnamon Latte takes just moments to whip up using a blender, no espresso machine or special milk frother required. It’s naturally dairy-free, and uses just a few ingredients and a blender! You’ll end up with a dreamy warm “latte” topped with a dollop of foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon!

Still need a coffee fix? Check out our Coffee Archives! We also highly recommend you check out our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has over 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes for you to explore, and subscribers also gain access to ten new recipes per day! Let us know if you give it a try!

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