Sustainable Coffee!

Sounds like Equator Estate is doing about as much as is possible within the current context and pushing the sustainability frontier forward as a result.  115 Jordan St., San Rafael, CA 94901-3919, (415) 485-2213

San Rafael-based specialty coffee roaster wins best roaster award, By Jennifer Upshaw Swartz, Independent Journal, Posted: 10/22/2009 05:11:03 PM PDT

Equator Estate Coffees & Teas of San Rafael was selected as the best coffee roaster in the United States, beating out 40 of the country's best roasters in Roast Magazine's annual competition. "Equator Estate Coffees & Teas encompasses the core of a true artisan coffee roaster," said Connie Blumhardt, publisher of Roast Magazine. "Roast chose Equator Estate Coffees as our 2010 Macro Roaster of the Year because of their commitment to sustainability, desire to educate their employees and customers as well as their continual drive to push the boundaries of what it means to be a coffee roaster. Equator has a true passion for creating and selling amazing coffee."

The company was honored for its coffee quality; pioneering the Loring Smart Roaster, which reduces carbon emissions by 80 percent; its biofuel and hybrid vehicles that make the deliveries; its habit of composting 100 percent of its coffee chaff and burlap bags, and more.

The magazine noted its practice of making micro-loans to international coffee partners and spearheading social and environmental sustainability projects that benefit communities in coffee growing regions around the world. The company recently purchased a farm in Panama, where it is growing coffee with a team of Panamanians.