7 Ways Bulletproof Coffee Beans Save the Earth

When you brew your morning coffee with Bulletproof beans, you can sip with the satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting human rights, farmers’ livelihoods and sustainable agriculture. Our coffee beans are Rainforest Alliance Certified, which means we’ve made a commitment to producing coffee in a way that supports its environmental and community roots.

That sounds great, but what do these pillars really look like in practice? Read on to learn about the specific ways Bulletproof partners with our coffee suppliers, farmers and the Rainforest Alliance to ensure coffee production processes are carried out with respect to people and the planet, and how choosing our coffee supports these initiatives, too.

Bulletproof’s clean coffee promise

Photo Credit: Rainforest Alliance

Bulletproof’s coffee beans are shade-grown, a farming method that enriches both the environment where the coffee is grown and the flavors that end up in your cup. We source our beans from small farms in Colombia, El Salvador and Guatemala. Our 100% Arabica coffee cherries are hand-picked and sorted by expert local harvesters.

What do our coffee-growing experts look for? They only use ripe and intact cherries that are washed and toxin-tested (above and beyond Rainforest Alliance coffee standards). Once the beans are carefully roasted, blended and brewed, our farmers, suppliers and internal team conduct the all-important taste tests to give their stamp of approval, which guarantees Specialty Grade coffee.

The Rainforest Alliance certified seal on our coffee products tells you it was produced with respect for farmers, workers and nature…

What it means to be Rainforest Alliance Certified

To earn Rainforest Alliance certification, the farms we source our coffee beans from must meet sustainability standards designed to protect and benefit not only the farm’s local community, but the Earth in general. These standards include using farming and production methods that conserve natural resources like water and soil, eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and protecting worker rights and wildlife.

Unfortunately, some farming and production methods can destroy the surrounding natural habitats and expose workers to unfavorable working conditions. On the other hand, the Rainforest Alliance teaches environmentally friendly farming practices to ensure farmers are being paid and treated fairly by their employers as they help their communities blossom and thrive.

7 ways sipping our coffee helps save the planet

Whether you take it black or fat-fueled, your morning cup of Bulletproof coffee packs more than just flavor. From funding local youth programs in our coffee farm communities to slowing down the impact of climate change, you can make a difference the moment you tear open an aromatic bag of our clean and supportive coffee beans.

1. Biodiversity support

Our coffee growers help maintain the diverse collection of plants and animals native to the area by establishing wildlife corridors—strips of natural habitat that connect populations of wildlife otherwise separated by cultivated land or roads. They also support the protection of endangered species by banning hunting, minimizing the spread of invasive species (non-native plants or animals that can negatively alter habitats), implementing erosion control and increasing organic soil to improve soil health.

Additionally, since our coffee is shade-grown under native trees, it’s protected from harsh weather conditions. Not only does this reduce the need for pesticides and chemical fertilizers, but it also promotes biodiversity. Some believe that because this coffee-growing method produces crops more slowly, the berries yield superior flavors.

2. Deforestation prevention

The coffee farms we partner with practice agroforestry, meaning they nurture existing trees and plant new ones side by side with coffee and other crops.

Besides promoting biodiversity, our farms also work with the Rainforest Alliance to tend to surrounding areas by protecting, conserving and even rehabilitating natural ecosystems.

3. Climate change mitigation

The Rainforest Alliance Certified farms we work with conduct a risk assessment to better understand how the local climate will change over time, where they are most at risk and what preventive actions they can take. Once they understand the current and potential future local effects of climate change, they map out farming processes catered to a specific environment and its associated risks.

Farmers also carry out a carbon footprint assessment to learn how to minimize their footprint by making operations more energy efficient. Following business practices like planting and growing trees around coffee plants and the surrounding environment contributes to this carbon footprint reduction, as well!

4. Gender equality promotion

Photo Credit: Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance works with the farms that produce our coffee beans to promote the empowerment of non-binary and women farmers. Certified companies and farms receive tools and training to better understand and address the gender gaps and issues in their operations.

In addition, they must create and distribute a written statement to their workers expressing how they are committed to gender equality.

5. Workers’ rights protection

Rainforest Alliance coffee farms prioritize workers’ rights and safety, making them better places to work! Each farm has teams in place to prevent forced labor, discrimination and workplace harassment and violence. Mere bans have proven ineffective in the past, so current prevention efforts focus on engaging the community, raising awareness and assessing and addressing the issues that may be present in this part of the supply chain.

Farms also provide a living wage for workers and a living income for their farmers. This means they must pay minimum wage and compensate farmers and staff enough to afford food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, clothing and other necessities—including coverage of unexpected life events—based on the local cost of living.

6. Child labor prevention

All Rainforest Alliance Certified farms have an internal committee dedicated to preventing child labor. When the committee finds a case, it works with the respective family to mend the problem.

Whether this means helping locate a child’s birth certificate for school registration or improving household income to eliminate the need for someone’s son or daughter to work, every measure will be taken to support families who find themselves in these sorts of situations.

7. Local community support

Proceeds from coffee sales help the workers who grow, harvest, cup, pack and ship the coffee beans by funding improvements in their communities! From building roads and better housing to supporting local youth with access to snacks, playgrounds and even musical instruments and programs, every dollar goes a long way toward making life a little easier for those directly involved in the sourcing process.

Get to know our robust coffee line

In addition to prioritizing the well-being of the environment and communities where our coffee comes from, we strive to craft high-quality products for discerning coffee lovers just like you!

Our coffee roasts

Our coffee collection comes from award-winning farms and features expertly roasted, high-quality coffee beans that taste as good as they make you feel! Our rich, bold and smooth blends are certified clean and toxin tested so you can fuel the day in a premium way.

Our signature roasts include:

• Breakfast Blend: This vibrant and bright light roast is a perfect complement to your morning routine.
• Bulletproof Original: The OG! This medium-roast coffee is sweet and smooth on the palate.
• The Mentalist: Want something a little stronger? Try our medium-dark roast with a deliciously rich and nutty finish.
• French Kick: Ready to level up? Our darkest roast features all things smoky and smooth. Très bon!
• Bulletproof Original Decaf: Love the taste of coffee but need to cut back on caffeine? Our decaf roast has the same delicious flavor but utilizes the Swiss Water® Process to gently remove caffeine without using chemicals like other methods do.

From grounds to beans to single-serve pods (did you know we recently launched compostable Nespresso-compatible capsules?), we’ve got your coffee bean needs fully covered.

The bottom line: Bulletproof and the Rainforest Alliance are creating a better future by committing to responsibly sourced coffee beans. When you purchase Rainforest Alliance coffee, you’re supporting high standards of environmental, social and economic stewardship. The everyday choices you make contribute to a better world where people and nature can thrive together.

Our coffee farmers are proud to be a part of the Bulletproof family. Find out how Bulletproof changed life and work on the coffee farm for Pablo Chuy.