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A Family Legacy: Nearly 50 Years in Coffee Excellence.

 A Journey from Farm to Cup

 

Beyond Sourcing: Direct Trade as a Business Ethos

You may have come across the term "Direct Trade" as a buzzword in the coffee industry. But at Fratello Coffee Roasters, it's far more than a trendy term or a mere procurement strategy. For us, Direct Trade is an overarching philosophy that informs not just how we source our beans, but also how we engage with our farming partners and uphold our commitment to quality and ethics.

"What I love about coffee is that it’s so involved and is an ever-changing industry, both on the roastery side and the green bean side. Fratello’s direct trade partners receive approximately 25-35% more money for their coffee than Fairtrade’s published rates." - Russ Prefontaine

The Fratello Standard:


A Testament to Craftsmanship and Quality
. At Fratello Coffee Roasters, we see ourselves as more than just roasters; we're curators of a unique coffee experience. Each bean we select has its own story, starting with our global farming partners and culminating in the cups of our patrons. It's a journey we manage with precision, ensuring each bean meets our rigorous criteria for flavor, ethical sourcing, and quality.

Our Calgary-based roastery serves as the final testing ground. Here, we profile each varietal with painstaking attention to detail, finetuning the roast to unlock its full flavor potential. But it's not just about the end product; it's about the relentless pursuit of perfection that defines our approach. We don't just meet standards; we set them

Direct Trade:



A Philosophy Rooted in Partnerships and Impact. Direct Trade is more than just a sourcing method for us; it's the bedrock of our philosophy at Fratello Coffee Roasters. This approach involves forming direct, long-term relationships with farming partners across the globe. It's not merely transactional; it's a collaborative effort to bring out the best in each bean while ensuring a sustainable and ethical chain from farm to cup.


By bypassing traditional intermediaries, we're able to curate unique flavor profiles that you won't find in mass-produced blends. Each bean becomes a character in the story of its own coffee, reflecting the distinct soil, climate, and care it received.


But the impact goes beyond the cup. Our Direct Trade practices yield tangible benefits for the farming communities we work with. From improved living conditions to ethical labor practices and sustainable environmental protocols, we see firsthand how our partnerships make a difference. This comprehensive approach allows us to serve coffee that's not just exceptional in taste but also in the values it represents.

The Multi-Faceted Impact of Direct Trade



From Bean to Community: The Direct Trade Difference. Our commitment to Direct Trade is not just a business decision; it's a choice that influences every aspect of Fratello Coffee Roasters. Through the direct relationships we foster with our farming partners, we're able to influence and select particular harvesting methods, varietals, and processing techniques. Each of these elements contributes to the unique flavor profile of our coffee, allowing us to provide a distinctive taste experience for our customers.

Beyond the beans, our Direct Trade approach has a profound social and environmental footprint. We work closely with our partners to ensure they adhere to ethical practices and sustainable policies. This includes providing healthcare, ensuring adequate living conditions, and offering educational opportunities for farm workers and their families. It's a holistic engagement that enriches communities and sustains livelihoods.

This hands-on, relational approach does more than give us peace of mind; it provides us with a level of quality control that's unparalleled. We're not just tracing our coffee's journey; we're actively shaping it, ensuring that each cup we serve is a testament to our values and craftsmanship.

Rewarding Quality



A Commitment to Fairness and Excellence. At Fratello Coffee Roasters, we recognize that great coffee starts with great producers. That's why we're committed to financially rewarding our farming partners for their unwavering dedication to quality. Through our Direct Trade relationships, we go beyond standard industry practices to offer our partners 25-35% more than Fairtrade's published rates.

This isn't just a business strategy; it's an extension of our family-driven ethos and commitment to ethical sourcing. We see our farmers not as suppliers, but as invaluable partners in our quest to elevate the coffee experience. By compensating them more generously, we're not only acknowledging their craftsmanship but also contributing to the well-being and sustainability of their communities.

It's a win-win approach that enriches everyone involved—from the hardworking farmer to the final consumer enjoying a cup of Fratello coffee. For us, rewarding quality is more than a policy; it's a principle that guides us in every decision we make.



Unyielding Excellence: Beyond The Third Wave

The term "Third Wave Coffee" often circulates in the industry, referring to a focus on transparency, sustainability, and artisanal methods. But at Fratello Coffee Roasters, we consider this merely a foundation, not a pinnacle of achievement. Our commitment to coffee craftsmanship goes far beyond industry buzzwords. With a heritage that spans over 38 years, we've evolved roasting from an art form to a finely-tuned science.

Our team, a cadre of seasoned professionals, is relentless in the quest for the perfect cup. It's not unusual for us to dedicate several months and extensive testing to unlock the full potential of a single coffee varietal. This level of meticulous care sets Fratello apart in a landscape increasingly filled with third-wave roasters.​

KYLE PARK - HEAD ROASTER, Q GRADER

It’s really nice to have the freedom to continue working on a coffee until you’ve put your stamp on it and say this is good enough for my standards and its good enough for the company."


Discover The difference Direct Trade Makes
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