Honest coffee doesn't start with perfect packaging. Nor does it start with a grand promise.
It begins with honestly stating where you stand.
At Bunafide, we are working towards a coffee chain that becomes clearer, fairer, and more direct step by step. We are not yet where we want to be. Currently, we work with Dutch roasteries and coffees with conscious certifications. That's a start.
But it's not the end point.
Our ambition goes further. We want to move towards more direct sourcing, more insight into prices, and more connection with the people who grow the coffee. Not overnight. But step by step.
That's why we're taking you on our journey. From certification to direct sourcing. From less knowledge to more insight. From good intentions to better choices.
Read more about how we work towards transparent coffee.
Why we are honest about where we stand now
Many brands mainly tell what sounds good. We prefer to tell what is true.
The coffee world is complex. Beans often pass through many hands before they end up in your cup. As a result, it is not always clear who earns what, exactly where the coffee comes from, and how much impact your purchase has.
We also don't yet have complete insight into everything. At the moment, for example, we do not yet know exactly what amounts Dutch roasteries spend on purchasing, what ultimately reaches the farmer, and how all costs in the chain are structured.
We prefer to be honest about that.
Because transparency doesn't mean you already know everything. Transparency means sharing what you know, being honest about what you don't know yet, and showing what steps you are taking to progress.
That is the basis of fair coffee as we see it.
What certifications do and don't tell you
Certifications can be valuable. They set requirements for production, working conditions, environment, or trade. They help consumers make a more conscious choice more quickly.
Currently, we work with roasteries that use certifications such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, Organic, and Climate Activator. With this, we choose coffees that meet certain standards and where quality is guaranteed.
That is important.
But a certification doesn't tell you everything.
A certification doesn't always show exactly what price the farmer receives. Or how many intermediaries there are in the chain. Or how the costs of transport, roasting, and sales are structured.
That's why we see certifications as a starting point. Not as a final destination.
Certifications as a starting point
In the phase we are in now, certifications help us to purchase more consciously. They provide direction and offer a basis for quality and responsibility.
An example is Lush Bloom. This coffee has Fairtrade and BIO-EU certifications and therefore fits well with a conscious choice within our current assortment.
But here too, we remain honest: a certification is valuable, but it doesn't automatically make the entire chain fully transparent.
Why transparency goes further than a label
For us, transparency goes beyond what is written on a package.
Ultimately, we want to show where coffee comes from, who works on it, what price is paid, and what impact your choice has. That requires more than a certification. It requires relationships, open figures, and direct cooperation.
We are working towards that.
Phase 1: Working with Dutch roasteries
This is the phase Bunafide is currently in.
We purchase our coffee through Dutch roasteries. They take care of sourcing, roasting, and quality. The coffees we select carry conscious certifications and provide a good basis for taste and reliability.
This means that we are already making choices that better align with our mission. But it also means that sourcing is currently outsourced.
We have to be honest about that.
In this phase, our role is mainly about raising awareness. We make it visible that the coffee chain can be improved. We explain why origin, price, and transparency matter. And we are building a group of coffee drinkers who want to make conscious choices.
Because without people who want to buy differently, the chain won't change.
Check out our Bunafide coffee beans if you want to start making a conscious choice within our current assortment.
Phase 2: Seeking direct relationships with farmers
The next step is the beginning of sourcing.
In this phase, we will ourselves look for farmers or cooperatives. Not to claim a beautiful story, but to better understand the chain and build more direct relationships.
The more people choose Bunafide, the more room there is to further develop this process. Direct sourcing requires time, knowledge, trust, and volume. You don't build that in a day.
But you have to start somewhere.
In this phase, we want to show that we are not just talking about improvement, but actively working on it. We are looking for partners who align with our values: traceability, quality, fair price, and the willingness to improve together.
Phase 3: Sourcing coffee at the origin
That's where we want to go: sourcing coffee at the origin.
This means that purchasing starts with the farmer or cooperative. Negotiations then happen not through a long chain of intermediaries, but more directly with the people who grow the coffee.
That provides more insight. Into price. Into origin. Into quality. Into impact.
It also likely means that the retail price for the consumer will increase. That's part of the process. Fairer coffee cannot always be the cheapest coffee.
But if it is clear where that money goes, price becomes a fairer conversation.
Then you're not just paying for coffee. You're paying for quality, origin, and a chain where the farmer is in a stronger position.
Phase 4: Further sustainable development of the chain
Once the foundation is laid, we can look further.
Then it's not just about purchasing coffee, but also about everything surrounding it. Think about more sustainable packaging materials, more efficient processes, better support for farmers, and projects that contribute to the environment where coffee is grown.
That is a later step. But an important one.
Because a better coffee chain doesn't stop at a fair price. It also concerns the future of the land, the community, and how coffee is produced.
We want to work with farmers to find ways to make the process more sustainable, improve it, and make it more efficient. Not top-down. But together.
Phase 5: Bunafide's ideal vision
The ideal vision is clear.
We want to create enough room to support multiple farmers for longer periods. Not with isolated actions, but with sustainable relationships.
We also look beyond just coffee. If the foundation is strong enough, projects around villages, nature, agriculture, and local development can also emerge in the long term.
That's not where we are today.
But it is the direction.
And that's precisely why we share that journey. So you know what you're supporting when you choose Bunafide.
Why direct sourcing is important
For us, direct sourcing is not a marketing term. It is a way to make the chain fairer and clearer.
Fewer links in the chain
The more links there are between farmer and consumer, the less clear it often becomes who earns what. By purchasing more directly, we can shorten the chain.
That doesn't mean every intermediary is bad. Some parties add value. But every extra link must be logical.
More insight into price and impact
Direct sourcing makes it easier to be open about numbers. What does the farmer receive? What does transport cost? What does roasting cost? What is left over?
We want to provide more and more insight into that.
Not to show perfect numbers, but to build trust.
Stronger relationship with farmers
When you work more directly together, you get to know each other better. You better understand what farmers need. And farmers gain more insight into the people who drink their coffee.
That aligns with what Bunafide stands for: connection between farmer and drinker.
What your choice means in this
A coffee chain doesn't change by itself.
Every purchase helps determine which way the market moves. If you only choose the cheapest option, pressure on price often remains the standard. If you choose more consciously, room for better alternatives emerges.
That doesn't mean you, as a coffee drinker, have to solve everything.
But your choice matters.
If you choose Bunafide, you choose a brand that wants to grow honestly. A brand that doesn't say everything is already perfect, but does show what steps are needed.
For example, start with an accessible coffee like Straight Up. No fuss. Just beans. Or choose Super Nova if you are looking for a coffee with more depth, balance, and a clear origin combination.
It doesn't have to be perfect. It starts with making more conscious choices.
No perfect chain, but a clear direction
We don't promise perfect coffee.
We promise that we are working towards coffee that is becoming fairer. A little more with each step.
Today that means: selecting conscious coffees, working with certifications, and being open about the phase we are in. Tomorrow that means: sourcing more directly, sharing more insights, and strengthening the relationship with farmers.
That is Bunafide's journey.
From certification to direct sourcing. From less insight to more openness. From good coffee to coffee that is increasingly right.
We are on our way. You help us move forward.
Read more about our growth plan and discover how we are working step by step towards a fairer coffee chain.
Want to know more about how transparency works in practice at Bunafide? Read what transparency means for Bunafide. Or delve deeper into how the coffee chain is structured.
