English (CA)
&BACK COFFEE is on a mission to help bring more purpose into businesses across North America. Turning cafeterias, micro-kitchens and breakrooms into a space for added impact, &BACK COFFEE offers more than just a great-tasting cup of coffee for consumers- we uplift women coffee farmers, helping to invest in their education and training so they can achieve more.
Sourcing certified Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance coffees helps farmers build toward better futures in coffee farming. These certifications also promote better working conditions, support local infrastructure and help protect local environments.
Through our pledge to 1% for the Planet, we donate 1% of our sales to support conservation and reforestation projects along the coffee belt to promote prosperous futures in coffee farming. We are Climate Neutral certified, committed to doing our part to transition to a net zero world by offsetting our carbon footprint and reducing our operating emissions.
Investing in women coffee farmers through agricultural training to financial literacy programs. Our work is framed by our commitment to the United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on ending poverty, achieving gender equality, sustaining life on land, and promoting responsible consumption and production.
Registered in 1985, the Kabng’etuny Farmers Co-operative Society is located in Kericho County in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Since then, with over 300 members in Kipkelion and 200 in Nandi County, the Kipkelion Women’s Union was formed and has played a pivotal role in supporting women in coffee farming. However, the capacity of these women farmers is often limited by domestic responsibilities, lack of financial literacy and a gap in their self-confidence to make decisions in their businesses.
Research shows that when women are in control of their household income, the result is better outcomes for the entire community, including health and education. This unique initiative is aimed at building the financial management skills of these women farmers so they can make smart investments, save for the future, and build resilience to economic shocks. Our goal is to also create a network of women leaders for farmer groups and cooperatives.
Through a series of in-depth workshops, women build on their financial literacy skills to improve their businesses, manage their household finances and boost their self-confidence. These ToTs then return to their cooperative communities to share the knowledge they’ve learned.
By working with the ToTs, women coffee farmers receive peer support to improve their financial acumen at home and at work.
Women coffee farmers feel better about themselves, and more in control of their businesses and their futures.
Supporting local farmers and inspiring the next generation. Witoca founders Andrea Lopez and Fabio Legarda are dedicated to improving the lives of coffee farmers in Ecuador’s Amazon region, both through coffee farming and through education. They’re also dedicated to elevating the quality of Robusta coffee, which has traditionally been perceived as inferior to Arabica, and are working to support its growth as a quality coffee in the Amazon.
Witoca works closely with AsoAmazonas, an organization of coffee farmers that helps ensure farmers have access to training and receive fair prices for Robusta coffee. In 2021, Witoca opened the doors of Witoca Lab, the first coffee quality lab in the northern Amazon, and launched the first coffee shop in Ecuador focused on Robusta Coffee.
40 hours of training, including organic production and crop management, harvesting for better care and production, and cupping experiences to increase coffee profile knowledge.
Increase the total weight of harvest through the correct application of biols and mountain microorganisms.
Also increase the cupping score of the coffee to build perceived value of product.
Smaller than typical bees, Meliponas bees are stingless but powerful pollinators that help sustain the Amazon’s biodiversity. While they can only do their work while the sun is shining because they can’t fly during downpours, they make up for this by pollinating up to 35,000 flowers throughout their average lifetime of five weeks. Studies show that Meliponas bees can help increase the size, weight and aroma of coffee cherries, as well as the plant’s productivity. They’re also highly sustainable: although one bee may only live for five weeks, the colony is constantly reproducing so there is never a shortage.
Through this initiative, we’re introducing Meliponas bees to Robusta coffee farmers at Witoca, with the goal of improving the quality, volume and taste of the coffee cherries, helping farmers earn an increased income from their work. We’re also establishing a program to train farmers and community members in the bee care process, building their skills and capacity to manage Meliponas apiaries and produce and sell honey.
Every pound of coffee sold helps support bee keeping and rescue projects in the Amazon.
Increase in size of coffee berries and taste (brix and sugar).
Each sponsored bee can pollinate up to 35 000 flowers in their average lifespan. Now that’s a busy bee!
B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is creating positive social and environmental impact. B Corps must meet high standards of transparency, accountability and performance on areas including supply chain, governance, the environment, charitable giving and customer service.
Learn more about our journey and performance on the B Corp website.