"Best-for-the-World" Green Coffee
We are not your typical coffee trader. We don’t just buy and sell green coffee for a living. We are an integral part of the communities where we work, ensuring that everybody in the coffee supply chain wins – from the coffee pickers to coffee drinkers. Read MoreHow Everybody Wins
For the farm, the exporter and the roastery to all be successful and sustainable in the long term, everyone needs to benefit. We ensure the price we are paying farmers is enough to secure their commitment and investment in quality for long-term production in the face of a changing climate and to demonstrate a successful business model for the next generation. We invest in the communities where we work, not only by investing in infrastructure but also by employing local people. In return, we are not only closer to the source of great coffee, but also develop trust that ensures long-term relationships are formed and communities thrive economically.
How everybody wins
For our business to be successful and sustainable in the long term, everyone needs to benefit. We ensure the price we are paying farmers is enough to secure their commitment and investment in quality for long-term production in the face of a changing climate, and to demonstrate a successful business model for the next generation.
Our enduring mission is to add value: to provide a service that neither the farmer nor the roaster could do alone; to find markets for committed farmers; to provide unparalleled at-origin quality control process to roasters; to ensure the consistency and longevity of our product; to provide education to farmers to ensure quality improvement and cost effectiveness at farm level; and to provide transparency and traceability of our products.
Caravela is a privately-run coffee export business, with over 17 years of experience and the original founders at the helm. Our unique model allow us to be agile to meet market and farmer demands rapidly and effectively. We innovate to seek efficiencies at all levels, from farm management, processing and shipping to quality control and advice on cost-effective buying strategy.
Unlike many other specialty coffee models, our company exports coffee, rather than importing from a third party. Our North American, Australian and European offices work on behalf of the 100 + staff members at origin to communicate the work we are doing on the ground, every day, and to facilitate long-term mutually-beneficial relationships between roasters and farmers.
A “Best-for-the-World” Company
For the last 17 years we have been improving, innovating, and investing in every level of the specialty coffee supply chain. And we’re just getting started…
For three years running, we’ve been named a “Best-for-the-World” company by B-Corp.
B-Corp is a worldwide movement of more than 2000 companies that meet strict criteria for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. In our last GIIRS Impact Assesment, we achieved a rating of 161 points out of 200, which puts us at the very top of the B-Corp coffee companies in the world and awards us ‘Platinum Status’.
Producers
Our network of coffee producers in Latin America is unparalleled. Like the finest cheese or wine, the best coffee comes from artisans; farmers that are passionate about what they do and who have perfected their craft through years of dedication. We do not buy truckloads of coffee at a time; we buy small lots from real farmers, who choose us to be their long-term partner so that they can concentrate on producing the very best coffee they can – and you can concentrate of roasting and brewing it to perfection.
In 2017 we purchased coffee directly from more than 4,500 coffee producers in 8 Latin American countries.
- Average price premium received by farmers over the average “C” market (2017) 64%
- The percentage of our team dedicated full time to our producers 56%
Roaster
For three years in a row, we’ve been awarded as a “Best-for-the-World” company by BCorp.We have been a member of the B-Corp community since 2014, which means that we’re part of a worldwide movement of more than 2000 companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. In our last [assessment], we achieved a rating of 152 points out of 200, which puts us at the very top of the B-Corp coffee companies in the world and awarded us ‘Platinum Status’.
Defined brands according to a consistent taste profile, quality level and budget help the roaster save time on blending and lot selection
Cost effectiveness
More cost effective to buy forward
freshest coffee
No pressure on cashflow: pay per delivery
Quality Range
Range of qualities available within each profile
Consistency
Consistency
Cashflow
Extensive QC process for reliability and longevity
- 84,3% Average Score of all coffee purchased 84,3%
- 60%of the coffee purchased is AA or above. 60%
Roaster
For three years in a row, we’ve been awarded as a “Best-for-the-World” company by BCorp.We have been a member of the B-Corp community since 2014, which means that we’re part of a worldwide movement of more than 2000 companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. In our last [assessment], we achieved a rating of 152 points out of 200, which puts us at the very top of the B-Corp coffee companies in the world and awarded us ‘Platinum Status’.
Defined brands according to a consistent taste profile, quality level and budget help the roaster save time on blending and lot selection
Cost effectiveness
More cost effective to buy forward
freshest coffee
No pressure on cashflow: pay per delivery
Quality Range
Range of qualities available within each profile
Consistency
Consistency
Cashflow
Extensive QC process for reliability and longevity
- 84,3% Average Score of all coffee purchased 84,3%
- 60%of the coffee purchased is AA or above. 60%
Communities
Either directly, through the presence of a buying station, cupping lab, dry mill or office, or indirectly by purchasing coffee from producers from a specific location, we are present in almost 200 communities in 11 countries, generating employment opportunities for thousands of people year-round.
Is the number of communities impacted
New Producers are selling coffee to Us
Aknowledgement of the producer: You know who the producer is of the coffee and where the coffee come from
100% of our coffee is specialty coffee
100% of our packaging is recyclable or recycled
60% of our coffee purchases are grade AA or above
Aknowledgement of the producer: You know who the producer is and where the coffee comes from
Best-for-the-Environment
Our work in conserving the coffee ecosystem was a key contributor to being awarded Platinum status and a Best-for-the-World company by B-Corp, and is a cornerstone of our business model
Our livelihood and future of the thousands of coffee farmers, depends solely on the maintenance of the land and ecosystem. We do everything we can to ensure farmers are sufficiently educated in sustainable practices to promote the fertility and long-term productivity of the land is protected. Pesticides are avoided as much as possible. The use of water in pulping and washing coffee is minimised, reuse of water in flotation tanks is promoted, and water sources are fiercely protected from coffee pulp and fertilizers. Planting taller shade trees among the coffee provides natural protection and organic fertilizer, as well as extra income or a food source for the family. Coffee trees and nutrient rich plants are planted on slopes, as natural barriers to avoid erosion during the rainy season. Our work in conserving the coffee ecosystem was a key contributor to being awarded Platinum status and a Best-for-the-World company by B-Corp, and is a cornerstone of our business model.
- The increase of Organic/Rainforest Certified Producers between 2016 and 2017 67%
- Farms with Rainforest/Organic Certification 40%
Contact Us
Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re looking for. One of your local Caravela team members will be in touch to take you through some different options of how we can help you.
We have pioneered a revolutionary and free agronomic education program that helps farmers improve not only the quality of their coffee, but also their quality of life.