The natural environment that produces the best quality coffee is vibrant and full of indigenous flora and fauna: a high canopy of trees shades the coffee plants and nourishes the soil with rich organic material. As with any crop, a monoculture of coffee leads to an unhappy and unhealthy ecosystem. The coffee fruit matures slowly under shade, which contributes to more complex flavors in the cup. Counter Culture is dedicated to purchasing coffee from farms with diverse canopies of shade trees, and we tirelessly promote the environmental and cup quality benefits of shade to coffee growers, consumers, and our peers in the coffee trade. Over the past five years, we have donated more than $40,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through sales of our Sanctuary brand of certified organic, Latin American coffees.

To learn more about shade-grown coffee and sustainable agriculture certifications:

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
Rainforest Alliance