Every Bean Counts

Behind every cup of coffee is a farmer who often earns the least. Every Bean Counts was created to change that.

This program gives coffee roasters & retailers a simple way to showcase their commitment to a fairer coffee trade and support Guatemalan coffee farming communities.

Here’s how it works:

1) Coffee merchants “tag” certain items in their retail stores that include a contribution to The Coffee Trust in their price.

The merchant may decide the amount of contribution they want this to be, which shall be agreed upon beforehand.

2) Merchants may add the contribution to their price of the item or take the contribution out of their standard price for that item.

In simpler terms, merchants may increase the price of item to cover the cost of their contribution or take the difference out of the retail price themselves rather than pass it on to the consumer. Any combination of passing the price on or paying it themselves is acceptable.

3) Merchants then make contributions to The Coffee Trust monthly or quarterly based on the amount earned from these tagged products.

EBC contributions are participant specific. The contributions are designated for specific projects funded by each participant. Each participant receives an acknowledgement for contributing toward their specific project.

Your business can fuel lasting change.

Through the Every Bean Counts program, your everyday sales support real solutions. Learn more about how we help Guatemalan coffee farmers and their families below.

  • Coffee Program

    Partnership with Asociación Chajulense to strengthen support for indigenous coffee farmers in San Gaspar Chajul.

  • Honey Program

    Supporting Chajulense beekeepers through a fair trade, organic honey cooperative that provides additional income for farmers.

  • Women's Savings and Microcredi

    Small loans and business training that empower women to build and grow family enterprises.

  • Education

    University scholarships that expand access to higher education in Chajul and San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala. 

Join us in the fight for a more just coffee trade.

Reach out today to learn how you can get involved.

FAQs

  • No, you decide how to structure the contribution. You can add it to the product price, absorb the cost, or split it. The program is flexible so you can do what works best for your customers and business model.

  • You choose the amount for each tagged product. There’s no set minimum; we’ll work with you to determine a contribution that feels meaningful and manageable.

  • Your contributions go directly to a specific Coffee Trust program that you choose to support. Programs include our long-standing Coffee Program with Asociación Chajulense, the Honey Program supporting local beekeepers through a fair trade cooperative, the Women’s Savings and Microcredit Program that helps women start and grow small businesses, and our Education Program, which provides university scholarships to students.

  • We provide posters, social media posts, and an introductory email to help you share your participation both in-store and online. It's a great way to highlight your values and connect with customers who care about ethical sourcing.