Great Egret
Specialty grade, swiss water decaf process coffee beans produced by Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. Cooperative from Montecillos, Honduras. Light roasted using 100% renewable energy by coffee artist Praveen in our single-use plastic-free roasting studio on Vancouver Island. It is a Certified Climate Wave Coffee which helps capture 300g of greenhouse gases per cup of coffee. Since coffee tasting is subjective, we strive for inclusivity. Our community of coffee drinkers tasted this coffee and contributed their tasting notes, using Sustainable Coffee Passport, as sweet, fruity, and orange candy.
forest of origin
Farm/Farmer: Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. Cooperative
Altitude: 1600 MASL
Region: Montecillos
Country: Honduras
Ethics: Certified Climate Wave
After setting up our roasting studio, we were presented with a consulting opportunity to help expand Green Cuisine Victoria's operations by adding a roastery cafe operation. However, we faced a challenge: we lacked a climate-positive decaf coffee that met our high standards for specialty coffee. That's when we came across Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. Cooperative (COMSA) of Honduras, thanks to David of Birds and Beans. We were impressed by David's thorough answers to our questions about the climate-friendliness of his coffees. Following a detailed conversation, we discovered another Certified Climate Wave Coffee to add to our selection. This decaf coffee from COMSA is cultivated in a forest environment with diverse layers of vegetation, supporting rich biodiversity. Their organic farming practices prevent water pollution and ensure fair trade, guaranteeing equitable prices for all cooperative producers.
genus coffea
Coffee species: Arabica
Varietal / Sub-species: Blend of multiple varietals
coffee fruit to green bean process
Process: Swiss Water Decaf
Lot type: Whole lot
Size: Blend
Quality: Specialty
Our specialty-grade coffees adhere to the rigorous quality standards established by the SCA. They are free of defects such as Quakers, which can impart papery and peanut-like flavors, disrupting the coffee's natural profile. Additionally, we meticulously screen for other defects like berry borers, undeveloped beans, and fungal infections through multiple-stage quality assessments, ensuring that only the finest beans with their original characteristics intact are selected.
green beans to roasted beans
Landed cost of green beans: $15.86 CAD / KG
Green beans import partner: Birds and Beans
Roasting studio location: Victoria
Roasting facility description: Single-use plastic free
Roasting fuel: Induction, 100% renewable energy
Roast Degree: Light
We go beyond fair-trading. We add meaning to Support Local movement. We take pride in our role in the coffee industry, which has historically championed the fair trade movement and is now embracing pricing transparency. We are among the few coffee professionals worldwide who openly share the landed cost of our green beans. We believe that this transparency in pricing will empower the hardest workers in the global coffee value chain—farmers and farm workers—by granting them financial independence and helping them overcome poverty. Additionally, it encourages fair pricing, ensuring consumers are not excluded from the "fair trade" equation. Keeping profit-margin a secret strengthens capitalism and perpetuates unequal distribution of wealth. Conversely, transparency in pricing not only fosters fair trade between farmers and roasters but also benefits coffee consumers. We see this commitment to transparency as a crucial step toward achieving justice and equality for all involved.
We are proud to be pioneers in single-use plastic-free coffee roasting operations. We receive green coffee beans in reusable bags and store them in reusable containers such as bags and boxes. Plastic labels are not used to identify the coffee beans in our bins. Roasted beans are also stored in reusable containers. We undertake these practices to lead by example. The success of our business model serves as an open case study, available for global entrepreneurs seeking inspiration to adopt sustainable practices.
from roastery to you
Delivery and Pickup Options:
- Zero-emission, free delivery within the Greater Victoria region. Or,
- pick it up at our artisan roasting studio inside Green Cuisine Cafe at 560 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC, in Market Square on Fridays: 8:30AM to 10:30 AM, Saturdays: 11 AM to 1:30 PM, and Sundays: 11 AM to 1:30 PM. Or,
- flat-rate carbon-neutral Canada-wide delivery available.
Packaging Options:
- Your own container: If you are picking up, bring a few empty reusable containers. For free local delivery, leave a few resuable containers outside your door or be available to receive at the delivery location. This option is not available for Canada-wide delivery.
- Compostable recycled paper bag: The paper bag is breathable and will not protect coffee from moisture or water. We highly recommend transferring to an airtight container as soon as possible. Compost the paper bag afterwards.
- Glass jar without labels: This is a good option if you don't have an airtight container at your place and if you are planning to reuse this jar.
- Glass jar with paper labels for gifting: This is a good option if you are gifting this coffee to your loved ones. We use 100% plastic-free and tree-free gift packaging. Monica is a professional craftsperson. She loves gift packing :)
brew and tasting guide
In the morning's hush, coffee whispers more than just caffeine's touch. It's a mindful journey, a symphony of flavors unique to each cup.
Our guide? Simply put: "Try it all." Be daring, be free.
From French press hugs to Turkish tales, from gentle drips to espresso's fire, each method holds a key to joy.
In every sip, our farmers' toil sings—a tribute to their craft, their love in every bean. As you, the barista, take each cup in hand, it becomes a sacred trust—to honor the journey from soil to cup, in each pour, in each brew, in every moment shared. So pause, slow down, drink without judgment, and let the warmth of each sip spread love both far and wide, resonating deeply within you, the barista.
And amidst it all, let's celebrate the forests, guardians of our precious beans, capturing greenhouse gases, nurturing the very essence of our beloved brew.
PS: Contribute your tasting notes via our Sustainable Coffee Passport.
