Through the combined efforts of JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters and Ken Landers, the San Rafael Sustainable Coffee Initiative (SRSCI) is off the ground and running.  With the goal of restructuring the current seed-to-cup value chain that exists in coffee farming, the SRSCI aspires to positively impact the lives of the Costa Rican coffee farmers, implementing the four pillars of sustainability: social, cultural, economic and environmental.  With current co-op methods ineffectively aiding the farmer, the SRSCI is laying the foundation for direct trade from the San Rafael coffee farmer to the consumer.  The astonishing facts of the current value chain demonstrate a net profit for some Costa Rican farmers of $0.39 (39 cents!) per one pound of coffee.  Compare this to the average $250 net profit the coffee retailer receives for the SAME one pound of coffee.   JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters and the SRSCI believe the consumer should have the choice to go directly to the source, the Costa Rican farmers themselves.  The San Rafael Sustainable Coffee Initiative opens this window for choice, offering direct communication with the farmer, direct purchase and revealing a world of possibilities for the consumer and the farmer that do not exist in the current market.  JumpinGoat will be returning to Costa Rica with the Costa Rica Eco Tour scheduled for January 2011 to further investigate coffee at its source, the SRSCI’s venture in coffee sustainability measures and how to accomplish this with the other local coffee farmers.  Coffee and non-coffee industry personnel are encouraged to join. 

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JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters is on a mission.  Dedicated to providing the highest quality roasted coffee, exceptional service and the guidance of coffee business plans, JumpinGoat is traveling to Costa Rica to experience the origin of coffee, before it is roasted and even before it is picked.  JumpinGoat will explore a hands-on approach to the cultivation of the coffee cherry – walking, talking and working with the local farmers and even harvesting discussions and instruction, as the following trip in January will result in actually picking the berries from the trees.  Aspiring to expand knowledge on social and cultural sustainability with applications to coffee shop business plans,  JumpinGoat departs Friday, April 30th, destination The Common Cup Community Coffee House and Roastery, Monteverde, Costa Rica. 

Serving as host to this JumpinGoat adventure, Ken Lander, administrator of The Common Cup, offers the opportunity for coffee entrepreneurs/enthusiasts to participate in the full seed-to-cup process, learning not only a great deal about coffee, but also discovering the values that a non-profit community coffee house  can offer.  The Common Cup believes in social sustainability, giving 40% of proceeds of the retail sale back to the community for educational and beneficial social services.  JumpinGoat is interested in this value system, hoping to garner and amplify these concepts.  “JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters seeks to embody as many appreciable aspects of sustainability as possible in our coffee business plan,” stated Forrest Graves, owner of JumpinGoat, and continues, “We have a responsibility to our patrons and supporters to provide coffee that is manufactured with a conscience.”  As a motivated and ambitious business owner, Graves looks to introduce several pillars of sustainability, including social, economic, environmental and agricultural.  JumpinGoat believes in this mutually beneficial relationship and heads to Costa Rica to view the fruition of The Common Cup and its joint venture with local coffee producers firsthand.   

The excitement continues to build as JumpinGoat anticipates direct interaction with the local farmers, experiencing seed-to-cup personally – planting, harvesting, processing, milling, grading, sorting, exporting, cupping, roasting, grinding and brewing.   This trip is about “getting your hands dirty” and really understanding the life of the farmer and the method to which coffee is prepared and managed.  Face-to-face communication with the producers, navigating the slopes of the mountainside, studying the coffee plant in its natural habitat, observing the cherry in developmental stages and coffee farming at its roots – that’s what this adventure is. 

Looking forward to the experience of coffee farming one-on-one and studying the cooperative ideals, JumpinGoat predicts a successful and entertaining endeavor.   The wisdom gained from this venture will be abundant.  No doubt, the knowledge shared with up and coming coffee businesses and followers of JumpinGoat will be received well.  Mr. Graves advocates sharing his coffee business knowledge and promotes these efforts in his coffee roasting business plan training. 

JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters invites you to attend the January 2011 JumpinGoat Costa Rican Adventure Tour, as Forrest Graves travels back to Monteverde, leading the tour group along this coffee quest.  Explore the coffee world of Costa Rica and witness for yourself what this expedition holds.  JumpinGoat would like to extend this invitation to everyone, whether you have a lingering interest in coffee or have expert knowledge in coffee affairs.  Follow JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters throughout this adventure as we continue to update their progress and look for upcoming information regarding the January 2011 trip.  Travel arrangements for this Costa Rican tour can be made effortlessly with the help of VIP Travel in Cleveland, Georgia.   With lots of adventures foreseen, this is going to be one great trip. 

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