I think what really set me over the edge is when I went on an origin trip. For those that don't know, it's pretty self explanatory: the company/roaster/etc you work for sends you to the origin of where one of their coffees comes from. It's usually somewhere in Central or South America. It's highly coveted in the industry because it's a vacation to a beautiful place vieled as a learning experience. The "learning" is just you and your party gawking at and getting in the way of the pickers and sorters doing the actual work while the farmer shows off their production.
A lot of goofy white dudes in the industry will talk about how this is some life changing religious experience and really makes them appreciative and humble about where their coffee comes from. For me it did the opposite. It shows how fucking terrible this system of exploitation is while we're inside in climate controlled conditions eating food and drinking the coffee that the people are out in the field picking in 100 degree heat for 5 cents for every pound they pick. They wouldn't let us talk to the pickers to ask how they felt. It was basically a fucking resort. These farmers are living so lavish.
I think what really set me over the edge is when I went on an origin trip. For those that don't know, it's pretty self explanatory: the company/roaster/etc you work for sends you to the origin of where one of their coffees comes from. It's usually somewhere in Central or South America. It's highly coveted in the industry because it's a vacation to a beautiful place vieled as a learning experience. The "learning" is just you and your party gawking at and getting in the way of the pickers and sorters doing the actual work while the farmer shows off their production.
A lot of goofy white dudes in the industry will talk about how this is some life changing religious experience and really makes them appreciative and humble about where their coffee comes from. For me it did the opposite. It shows how fucking terrible this system of exploitation is while we're inside in climate controlled conditions eating food and drinking the coffee that the people are out in the field picking in 100 degree heat for 5 cents for every pound they pick. They wouldn't let us talk to the pickers to ask how they felt. It was basically a fucking resort. These farmers are living so lavish.
Idk, man. It's just not for me.