Poverty Bay News Brief

Who's Who in Federal Way Article - May 20th, 2008

For nearly 20 years, Poverty Bay Coffee Company has been a solid fixture in the local business scene.  The company was built the old-fashioned way, with hard work, sound business practices, and friendly people.  The company is named after a local bay, Poverty Bay, and all of the roasts and blends named after local landmarks and waterways.
 
Dan Olmstead, (President), and Sara Stracke, (VP-Treasurer), started the company with the first latte stand in Federal Way.  Soon after, they opened a second stand in Milton, with Kirsten Sheppard, (VP Retail Sales and Secretary), joining them.  As their interest in the origins of world class coffee and the issues of coffee farming communities grew, they decided to begin roasting their own brand of coffee, "100% Sustainable Shade Grown Coffee".  From it, they would produce on a much larger scale, their signature product "Dan's Cold Brewed Espresso".  ("Dan's Cold Brewed Espresso" is a cold coffee extract used in iced lattes, blended beverages, desserts and signature cocktail drinks.)  Always The Best, Because It’s Fresh!

Shade Grown Coffee is grown under the rainforest canopy alongside other large rainforest plants.  In this environment, the soil remains naturally rich from composted plant materials and bird droppings.  Thus coffee plants flourish without agricultural chemicals.

Because of the increased demand for gourmet coffee, farmers have been encouraged to bring in hybrid coffee plants that grow more quickly in full sun.  Because of the absence of the rainforest canopy,”sun grown” coffee requires chemical usage to thrive.  In fact, sun grown coffee is the 3rd most sprayed crop in the world behind cotton and tobacco.

Making the commitment to Sustainable Shade Grown Coffee, Poverty Bay Coffee Company supports communities by

paying the farmers nearly twice as much for their coffee as they would receive on the open market. In this way, farming communities can work to be sustainable, their children can attend school, and they can remain independent.  In exchange for a fair price, the farmers have agreed to leave the rainforest trees in tact, which encourages a sustainable environment.  One company slogan is, “You can grow coffee in the rainforest, or you can grow coffee INSTEAD of the rainforest.”

In 2004, the Company began its "Giving Something Back" commitment.  For all purchases of coffee by the pound and Dan's Cold Brewed Espresso, 5% is donated to five different charities: Friends of Hylebos Creek Watershed, Seattle Audobon Society, Farestart Homeless Youth Barista, Farmers of the Malinal Estate in Mexico, and Farmers of the Cafe Selvanica Estate in Peru.

Poverty Bay Coffee Company works closely with its importers to make sure that quality and integrity go hand in hand.  Their importers work directly with the farmers, helping them to continue sound farming practices.

The results of this dedication and hard work has paid off, with the Company winning several awards, including the McCormick and Schmicks Cup second place award for "Best Espresso".  Komo News aired a documentary of the Shade Grown Coffee issue, along with the story of Poverty Bay Coffee Company's commitment to the communities of the Malinal Estate in Mexico.

Today, Poverty Bay Coffee Company owns and operates an award-winning deli in Federal Way, (across from the ball fields of Celebration Park), as well as the recently built drive-thru location on Meridian, in Edgewood.

Both retail locations as well as the online store @www.povertybay.com sell coffee by the pound as well as Dan's Cold Brewed Espresso. The company also offers fundraiser opportunities for businesses, filter packs for hotels, offices, or restaurants, and catering. Both locations offer phone-in orders.

Thank you for supporting Sustainable Shade Grown Coffee.