What 30% Over Fair Trade Really Means (And Why We Pay It)

At Lifted Grounds Coffee Co.™, we didn’t build this brand to play it safe.
We built it to do things the right way — even when it’s harder, slower, and more expensive.

That’s why we pay 30% to 100% over Fair Trade minimum prices for the beans that fuel your adventures.

Here’s what that really means:

Fair Trade Isn’t the Finish Line — It’s the Starting Point

Fair Trade sounds good — and sure, it’s better than nothing.
It sets a minimum price farmers should be paid to avoid exploitation when the market crashes.

But here’s the ugly truth:

• The Fair Trade minimum is still barely enough for many farmers to survive.

• It doesn’t always guarantee the best coffee, just the minimum ethical line.

• It’s a floor, not a ceiling.

And we’re not in the business of doing the bare minimum.
We’re in the business of building something wild, real, and better.

Why We Pay More

When we say we pay 30%–100% above Fair Trade, it’s not marketing fluff.
It’s because we believe in:

• Rewarding quality:
  Exceptional farmers producing specialty-grade beans should be rewarded, not shortchanged.

• Building real partnerships:
  We work with importers who have boots-on-the-ground relationships with farms — not just paper trails.

• Fueling sustainability:
  Higher pay = better farming practices, healthier soil, stronger communities — not just a check mark on a label.

• Roasting only the best:
  Great coffee doesn’t come from cutting corners. It comes from farmers who are passionate, proud, and able to invest back into their crops.

We’re not here to flash a Fair Trade sticker.
We’re here to change the standard.

Why It Matters for You

When you rip open a bag of Lifted Grounds Coffee Co.™, you’re not just getting coffee that tastes better — you’re fueling a bigger story:

• Better flavor, because better care was taken at every step.

• Better farms, because we don’t believe in bottom-barrel sourcing.

• A better world, built one muddy trail and one honest cup at a time.

Final Word

We don’t just talk about adventure — we live it.
And adventure doesn’t settle for average.
Neither should your coffee.

Stay lifted. Stay wild. Stay fueled.™