Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of a unique coffee shop whose name explains its cause. The Fair Trade Coffee House, 418 State St., provides much more than many different flavors of organic coffee; it reinvests money back into struggling coffee-growing communities.
Lori Henn, owner of the Fair Trade Coffee House, purposely utilized the name 'Fair Trade Coffee House' to put the concept of fair trade coffee out front.
\[Coffee prices] fluctuate wildly,"" Henn said. ""A lot of small [coffee] growers would invest in their plots and they would farm the coffee, and maybe their price would drop so they could get wiped out.""
According to Henn, fair trade coffee is a practice that guarantees a set price to the grower, even when the price of coffee drops below the cost of growing it. Most fair trade growers also use organic and shade-grown methods which prevent rainforest demolition, declines in bird populations and also protect the soil.
""Customers don't need to understand the politics behind fair trade coffee,"" Henn said. ""But the Fair Trade Coffee House is selling it and the coffee growers are benefiting from it.""
Megan Faragher, UW-Madison sophomore, enjoys the organic coffee experience at Fair Trade Coffee House and especially likes the fair trade coffee beans.
""I think it's the flavor,"" Faragher said. ""The fair trade coffee has a richer bean flavor than the normal coffee. I also feel better knowing that my money is being spent on a worthy cause.""
The Fair Trade Coffee House offers much more than coffee. Customers can enjoy a wide variety of beverages.
""All our coffees are organic,"" Attar said. ""It's good by itself, but we have a variety of fancy coffee. We have lattes, mochas, cappuccino americano, hot chocolate and many different flavors of tea.""
Tracy Jaowiak, a UW-Madison senior, goes to the Fair Trade Coffee House for the tea and study atmosphere.
""It's better than the library because it's not quite as serious but also quiet,"" Jaowiak said. ""I usually order tea because I'm on a budget.""
In addition to the Fair Trade Coffee House, Henn and her husband also own Michelangelo's Coffee Shop, another fair trade coffee outlet. Michelangelo's, 114 State St., has been selling fair trade coffee for about seven and a half years. This June marks the eighth anniversary for Michelangelo's Coffee House.
""We looked for something that was welcoming to all ages and comfortable yet classy,"" said Henn. ""Someone dressed for the theatre could come in and someone dressed for a football game could come in and be equally as comfortable.""
