January's Coffee of the Month Club Kickstarts a Journey to 100% Direct Trade Coffee

What do you think when you think about coffee?

Likely it’s the aroma wafting from a freshly brewed pot, the warmth in your hands on a crisp morning, the comforting ritual of each sip. 

Yet behind that perfect cup lies a troubling reality: many of the farmers around the world who cultivate our beloved beans face unfair compensation, unstable livelihoods, and a bleak outlook for the future. 

For Fire Department Coffee founder and CEO Luke Schneider that reality has kept him up at night. So we’re committing ourselves to being part of the solution. We’re brewing change. FDC is not just about creating exceptional coffee — we're about building a better future for the communities that bring it to life. 

That's why we're excited to announce a transformative journey: our commitment to becoming a 100% Direct Trade coffee company.

We’re calling it our Fair Share initiative. It represents an ambitious future for Fire Dept. Coffee and an opportunity to support the farmers and communities where our coffee originates.

"Not only do we want to establish these Direct Trade relationships and set a goal of being 100% Direct Trade, but we want to give back in the process," Schneider said. "Our goal is to invest in these coffee communities and create win-win scenarios for everyone involved."

Why Direct Trade Creates a Fair Share for All

Trade certifications, while well-intentioned, are often limiting to the farmers due to fees and complex regulations. The result? Coffee farmers, the very heart of the industry, are often trapped in a cycle of poverty, unable to earn a living wage and invest in their farms' future.

We believe in a different path. 

We believe in a trade relationship built on transparency, respect and shared success. Through these partnerships, we can connect directly with coffee-growing communities and ensuring fair, market-driven prices for their beans.

Our Fair Share initiative will allow us to contribute to a sustainable future for coffee lovers and coffee producers. 

Of course, for any relationship to be sustainable, it must benefit both parties. To understand the needs of coffee producers, we must build relationships and learn about the challenges each region faces. 

Our Coffee of the Month Club is the perfect opportunity for FDC to start building relationships at origin, so while we are working towards our goals of Direct Trade, we are giving back to these coffee-producing communities in the process. 

Beginning in January, we'll take club members on a curated journey into the heart of Direct Trade coffee. You'll savor roasts sourced directly from passionate farmers, learn their stories, and experience the unique flavors that blossom from ethical, sustainable practices.

This isn't a one-step leap, but a carefully crafted journey. Our first milestone is ambitious yet achievable: 75% Direct Trade coffee by the end of 2025. 

Investing in Education and Coffee's Next Generation

Our first partner on this incredible path is Campesino Coffee, a company rooted in Colombian tradition and fueled by a vision for a brighter future. Daniel Velasquez was born in Miami and raised outside of Washington, D.C., yet he’s the grandson of a Colombian coffee farmer and that lineage played an important role when he began a career in the coffee industry.

In 2015, he moved to Colombia and began collaborating with small farmers in Jericó, a small town about three hours from Medellín. Here, Campesino Coffee is building a better future, bean by bean.

"Specialty coffee is something we've had for hundreds of years in Colombia," Velasquez said. "It's deeply engraved in our traditions and our values. We can't let go of that. We need to be able to share that with the youth and get them excited about it."

Like many American farming communities, Colombia’s coffee-farming communities have seen an exodus of young people leaving small towns and family farms for the more prosperous promises of the cities.

In Colombia, the average age of a coffee producer is 59 years old. Velasquez knows that the key to securing a future for specialty coffee lies in creating an environment where young people can grow and thrive.

So Campesino Coffee has established a coffee school in Jericó, offering free courses in every aspect of coffee production, from drying and fermenting to cupping and roasting. They're even running a Youth Cupping School, teaching young people to identify flavors, discern characteristics and understand the delicate art of coffee creation.

Campesino Coffee has also built a community wet mill that streamlines coffee processing in Jericó. Typically, farmers handle the processing of the beans themselves, which can take weeks. With the establishment of the community wet mill, farmers can pick the cherry directly off the tree and sell it same-day, allowing for an immediate payment and income diversification, while completely eliminating the usage of water.

This is especially important because farmers with older and inefficient systems can use excessive amounts of water for washed coffees, which can have a harmful trickle-down effect on the region’s ecosystem.

Now, the wet-mill handles the processing, hand-selecting the ripest cherries, fermenting, and sun-drying to the optimal moisture levels, ensuring consistent, sustainable and responsible processing. This natural process uses no water and produces a fruit-forward profile in the cup.

How the Coffee of the Month Club Makes a Difference

It's this deep commitment to community, education, and sustainable practices that resonated with us at FDC. By partnering with Campesino Coffee, we're both sourcing exceptional beans and investing in the future of Colombian coffee farming.

Through our revamped Coffee of the Month Club, members will directly contribute to this positive change. For every bag of coffee you receive, $2 will be donated back to the coffee community where that month's roast originated. Imagine – with every sip, you're empowering farmers, supporting education, and building a brighter future for generations to come.

This journey to 100% Direct Trade coffee isn't just ours — it's yours. We want our customers to feel invested in this movement, too. So we’ll make sure that each month our members can enjoy unique, sustainably sourced roasts. And we’ll share the stories of the coffee-growing communities and the producers who take pride in creating the cups we drink each day. So you’ll know who you’re supporting and the impact you’re making.

“Our FDC customers have always been excited to be part of something that’s about more than coffee,” Schneider said. “They love the opportunity to give back to sick or injured first responders, which is a huge part of our mission. I know they’ll be equally excited to join us on this journey to source the world’s best coffee by empowering the people and communities that bring it to us.”

Coffee is a bridge between cultures, between continents, between farmers and families, and between us, the consumers, and the very source of our favorite beverage. Join us on this bridge, savor the journey, and let's build a stronger, fairer, and more delicious future for coffee, together.

Specialty Coffee from a Special Place

This extraordinary roast for January’s Coffee of the Month Club delivers a citrusy splash followed by a creamy taste. Notes of dark chocolate and juicy cherry swirl with hints of mandarin orange, a testament to the fully washed process that unlocks the hidden wonders, a meticulous composition of Dos Mil, Caturra, and Castillo varietals. 

Between the exceptional aroma and the delicious taste, this coffee will instantly find its place among your favorite roasts. Your first morning cup will invigorate you and give you the fuel to take on whatever the day brings. Well, maybe a second cup first.

Plus, you’ll feel great about the coffee you’re enjoying for reasons that go far beyond the taste.

Update: Your Support Makes A Difference

Thanks to your support, we are able to contribute $2,066, aiding coffee producers in Jerico, Antioquia in purchasing essential fertilizer. Your support is deeply appreciated, and we are privileged to have the opportunity to make such a meaningful impact.