2 coffee Roasters Offer Direct- Trade Beans

Two local coffee businesses paired up July 10 in downtown Cincinnati to share their knowledge of coffee bean growing and roasting – and give a little love to their new direct-trade farmers in Colombia.

The event was co-sponsored by Slow Food Cincinnati.

Owners of Mom ‘n ‘Em Coffee and Wine, and Urbana Café, talked about their direct-trade relationships with growers, and the washing and fermenting processes these women use with the beans.

They also explained their own roasting techniques to create their many varieties of high-quality beans.

New direct-trade roasted bean offerings from Mom 'n 'Em and Urbana Cafe in Cincinnati.

The event was held at Urbana Café’s location in the Atlas Building, on Walnut Street in Downtown Cincinnati, as café-goers grabbed their lattes and lunch treats.

Slow Food Cincinnati board member Tony Ferrari, co-owner of Mom ‘n ‘Em, talked about his business’s new Ana María Donneys Caturra & Castillo beans, grown in Colombia, which have notes of lemon balm and lavender.

Daniel Noguera, founder and president of Urbana Café, explained how grower Sara Gutierrez produces her beans in Colombia. The beans have notes of pineapple, melon, grapefruit and nutmeg.

Daniel Noguera of Urbana Cafe discusses his new direct trade coffee. Mom ‘n ‘Em co-owner Tony Ferrari stands at back, left.

Coffees from both growers are available at the respective local cafes, and online.

Both roasters embrace Slow Food’s emphases on good, clean and fairly produced food, which is often local and fresh.

Direct-trade practices, which these companies use, mean businesses know their artisan growers, and have transparent trade relationships with them.

- Annie-Laurie Blair