What is Fair Trade Coffee? | Equator Coffees

Equator Coffees has always believed that better coffee can create a better world. As California's first Fair Trade certified coffee roaster, we have stood at the forefront of the sustainable coffee movement since 1999. Through our partnership with Fair Trade USA, we work to ensure that every Fair Trade certified coffee we source creates real, lasting benefits for the farmers, producers, and communities who make it possible.

What Is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade is a global movement built on the idea that the people who grow our food and coffee deserve fair compensation, safe working conditions, and a say in how their communities develop. Fair Trade USA sets and enforces standards, certifying that farms and supply chains meet rigorous social, environmental, and economic requirements.

When you see the Fair Trade Certified™ seal on a bag of coffee, it means the coffee was produced under verified standards for worker safety, environmental protection, and sustainable livelihoods. It also means a Fair Trade premium was paid on top of the purchase price, putting extra money directly in the hands of the producers.

How the Fair Trade Premium Works

The premium is one of Fair Trade's most powerful features. At certified farms, a democratically elected committee of workers decides how the funds are used. That means the people growing the coffee choose where the money goes. It could go to healthcare programs, farm equipment, education, or direct cash bonuses.

In 2025, Equator's Fair Trade purchases generated $127,307 in premiums invested back into farming communities. At Kayon Mountain in Ethiopia's Guji region, those funds helped build two new schools serving 600 students. The project was driven by the community itself and built near farmers' homes to make attendance easier for children across the region. Read the full story in our Impact Report.

Why It Matters

Farm workers, including coffee farmers, are among the lowest-paid participants in the global food supply chain. Fair Trade gives us a way to ensure our purchases create tangible benefits for the people behind every harvest.

Not only is the farm itself required to hold a Fair Trade certification, but we as the roaster also must maintain a Fair Trade certified roasting facility. Equator Coffees is audited annually by Fair Trade USA to ensure that the conditions in our own roastery continue to meet their strict standards.

Fair Trade vs. Direct Trade

Fair Trade and Direct Trade are both common terms in the coffee industry, but they describe different aspects of how coffee is sourced. Fair Trade is a formal certification with defined standards and independent verification. Direct Trade is a sourcing approach prioritizing direct relationships between roasters and producers, emphasizing transparency, communication, and long-term partnerships.

At Equator Coffees, we value both approaches. In addition to pursuing Fair Trade certification, we prioritize transparency and building lasting relationships with the people who grow our coffee. We seek out lots from individual farms and cooperatives whenever possible, working closely with producers to understand who grew the coffee, how it was processed, and how the land is being cared for.

Equator and Fair Trade

Our Fair Trade journey began in 1997, when co-founder Brooke McDonnell traveled to Guatemala to study coffee production at the Chipicay Cooperative. The experience left a lasting impression and shaped her belief in the importance of building direct relationships with the people who grow coffee.

Two years later, we put that philosophy into practice when we became one of Fair Trade USA's earliest partners, buying coffee from the SOPPEXCCA Cooperative in Nicaragua. That partnership was the beginning of a decades-long relationship with Fair Trade and SOPPEXCCA.

It's also not the only standard we hold ourselves to. Many of our Fair Trade coffees are also USDA Organic certified, and we're proud early supporters of Regenerative Organic Certified® coffee, which goes beyond organic standards to emphasize soil regeneration, biodiversity, and farmer wellbeing. Responsible sourcing, for us, means looking at the whole picture.

Long-term relationships at origin are central to how we source and show up as partners. Built on trust and transparency, these relationships allow us to better support each producer in meaningful and lasting ways. The result is better coffee, stronger communities, and a supply chain rooted in mutual respect.

Shopping for Fair Trade Coffee

Look for the Fair Trade Certified™ seal on the front of the bag. It's the only guarantee the claim has been independently verified.

Browse our Fair Trade & Organic Certified Collection to explore the full range of Fair Trade coffees we offer. Or discover something new with our Fair Trade Organic Coffee Subscription, featuring a rotating selection of certified coffees delivered on your schedule.

Our Fair Trade certified coffees include: