The Best Ethical Coffee Shops in NYC
01 October 2019
Get your caffeine fix, without the exploitation.
If you're like the average New Yorker, you're probably addicted to coffee. You're in luck, because it's International Coffee Day. Do you know where your coffee comes from? Most coffee chains and cafes don't have transparent trading policies, unfortunately, and as many of us know, that means that there's some exploitation going on. But some companies have made efforts to improve their local and international relationships.
Not everyone can afford the exorbitantly expensive coffee you'll find in these places, and choosing to shop at these places is just one of many decisions and actions you can take to live more sustainability. If you have the means, though, here are the most ethical and eco-friendly coffee shops in NYC.
1. Coffeed
This chain has about a dozen locations in NYC, and each store pairs up with a charity in its location and donates 3-10% of its profits to that charity. They also grow their products locally, and most of their beans are grown on an acre-sized roof in Long Island City.
▲2. Think Coffee
Think Coffee is a great place to get work done, and you can feel good about your brew of choice knowing that they use high-quality, fair-trade roasts. Plus, in each of the farm zones that it sources from, Think develops an initiative to improve the area.
▲3. Stumptown Coffee
Stumptown relies on a "Green Team" that sources their coffee from eco-friendly producers. They've also focused on reducing their plastic output and using less water in their cold brew production, among other features.
▲4. La Colombe Coffee
This chain uses a trade method they call "Informed Trade," which works with importers to make sure that coffee farmers are paid well and that the coffee they're harvesting is high-quality. Fair Trade and Organic certified, they also prioritize working with farms that are rainforest-friendly and carbon free.
▲5. Brooklyn Roasting Company
This cafe's brew is Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic certified, and they prioritize transparency and traceability in their imports. They also prioritize working with local businesses and communities.
▲6. Nguyen Coffee Suppy
This cafe ethically sources all its coffee from a family-owned farm in Vietnam and focuses on creating sustainable farm-to-table relationships. Its founder, Sahra Nguyen, is a racial justice and community advocate.
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