We watched a fascinating documentary on Amazon about everything you might want to know about coffee, from grower to consumer, http://caffeinated.vhx.tv.

I was struck by the fact that poor growers in Central/South America never got to drink the best of their own product, having to export all the superior beans to the US and world.  No matter how high coffee prices went up at the consumer retail end, the farmers always made the same low wages.  They couldn’t risk trying new methods or varieties, because it takes years for a crop to mature on their small farms, limiting them to time-tested practices.

Many factors, like corporate monopolies of the industry, and climate change, will impact the availability and rising costs of the end product, which ultimately affect the livelihoods of small farmers, who take great pride in their traditional trade.  Whole families, generations, and villages engage in and depend on coffee-growing.

I’m all for fair trade, in theory, making sure small farmers have a shot at success making a living, not just the huge monopolies.  Ironically, even though poorer Americans still live better than the average small coffee grower, we can’t afford decent fair trade coffee beans, or fancy coffee-snob gadgets to roast, grind, or brew it.  We’re almost in their same boat.

On the mug-half-full side, our humble home brew is still better than the pathetic excuse for “coffee” found almost everywhere in this area.  People here don’t even know the meaning of the word.  I miss the taste of something many of us take for granted–decent water and coffee.

Not to complain or anything.  I’m thankful for whatever we’ve got, because I’m learning the value of little things, necessities.  Never take anything for granted, because it’s not guaranteed.  Anything beyond that is a bonus.  Like this excellent bread E just baked.  Not your average bread.