Peace Coffee

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Overview

Peace Coffee is a Minneapolis-based roaster specializing in organic and fair trade coffee sourced from small-scale farmer cooperatives in countries including Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, Ethiopia, and others. It sells through grocery stores, food co-ops, retail, and online, with a strong presence in the Upper Midwest and operations across the United States. The company is a Certified B Corp and largest member of Cooperative Coffees, emphasizing direct import relationships and supply chain transparency.

History

Peace Coffee was founded in 1996 by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) as a non-profit initiative to support small coffee farmers through direct fair trade purchases, starting with organic coffee from Chiapas, Mexico. In 1999, it co-founded Cooperative Coffees for direct importing and joined partnerships like one with Rigoberta Menchú in Guatemala. Operations moved to an eco-friendly facility in 2002; Lee Wallace became CEO in 2006 and purchased the company from IATP in 2018, leading to expansions like a second roaster in 2020.

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Tree Hugger (organic blend)	Balanced everyday fair trade blend	$12 - $18 per 12oz bag
Twin Cities (city-inspired roast)	Medium roast for local market	$13 - $19 per 12oz bag
Birchwood (single origin-inspired)	Smooth fair trade option	$14 - $20 per 12oz bag
Guatemalan Peace (single origin)	Origin-specific organic coffee	$15 - $22 per 12oz bag
Ethiopian varieties (single origin)	Bright, fruity fair trade profiles	$16 - $24 per 12oz bag

Manufacturing

Roasting occurs in-house at their eco-friendly facility in Minneapolis, featuring solar panels, geothermal heating, and a rooftop garden. Green coffee is imported directly from farmer cooperatives via Cooperative Coffees. A second roasting machine was added in 2020 to increase capacity.

Notable Products

Tree Hugger - Popular balanced organic blend from multiple cooperative sources.
Twin Cities - Medium roast highlighting regional appeal with fair trade beans.
Birchwood - Smooth blend sourced from smallholder cooperatives.
Guatemalan Peace - Single origin from partners linked to Rigoberta Menchú.
Compostable Pods - Sustainable single-serve option for reduced waste.

Reputation

Peace Coffee is recognized by enthusiasts for its long-term commitment to fair trade and organic sourcing, with transparent contracts published online and strong cooperative relationships averaging over five years. Professionals note its B Corp certification and eco-friendly operations as strengths in the ethical coffee segment. Some critiques focus on limited national distribution compared to larger brands, though its Midwest loyalty remains solid.

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