Cutting the Starbucks habit, but not coffee
For months my wife and I have been saying that we should kick our
twice-a-day coffee habit at Starbucks. Not only had become a major yearly
expense, but I felt like a hypocrite each time I went in, supporting
something I knew was bad for neotropical migrants. Finally, last month
(Jan.), we stopped going there, opting to buy shade-grown beans and making
coffee at home.
Earlier this month, our family had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica for
two weeks, birding in wonderful places such as the Osa Peninsula, Savegre
and the Central Cordillera. As we drove through the Central Cordillera, I
was shocked to see the number of hills stripped clean by farmers to grow
millions of coffee plants. We stopped by a roadside stand to inquire about
the coffee operation and found out that 90% of the coffee beans were bought
by the Starbucks Coffee Corporation! It was an ocean of ecologically dead
land. What an eye opener.
During the rest of our trip, I was fortunate enough to find and observe
many of Connecticut’s migrants and nesting species. By not being on an
organized trip, I was able to spend a great deal of free time watching Wood
Thrush, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Great Crested Flycatchers,
Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, Tennessee, Golden-winged, Yellow,
Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Black-and white and Wilson’s Warblers
as they fed with resident species in a lush, tropical rain forest habitats.
If you’re a birder and enjoy drinking coffee as much as I do, consider
switching to shade-grown coffee beans and support a farming practice that
is better for neotropical migrants. Until I saw it with my own eyes, I
really didn’t understand how harmful coffee production was to birds. A
tweak in ones habits (whether you quit or switch to certified shade grown)
can go a long way for bird conservation as well as for one’s wallet.
Read this very informative article about bird friendly, shade grown coffee
here;
Scroll down to the end of the article to read about Cerulean Warblers.
http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2009/02/trader-joes-cof/
More info here;
If anyone has a lead on a legitimate certified shade grown coffee brand,
please forward their name to me.
Paul Cianfaglione
Canton
Hi Paul,
Thanks for sharing your experiences in Costa Rica's coffee (and birding)
country. It brought to mind the "MacDonald's Connection" of deforestation in the
neotropics for raising beef cattle, I witnessed first-hand in Panama decades
ago.
It was great bumping into you down there at Sevegre Lodge, while I was
co-leading a Sunrise Birding tour . It's a small world! Several people from
CT were traveling with me.
During the tour, our local leader brought us to a great family-run organic,
shade-grown coffee farm, Finca Cristina. They do all the steps on site - grow
the beans, hull and sun-dry them, roast, package, and ship. The wife of the
owner grew up in Stratford, CT - we shared stories about birding here. Their
son works as a birding guide in Costa Rica. They have wonderful bird feeders
near the main house.
Anyway, their coffee is fabulous. I brought home 4 pounds of light & medium
roast.
Their web site is: www.cafecristina.com
Frank Mantlik
Stratford
From: paul cianfaglione pgcianfaglione@gmail.com
To: CT Lists ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Wed, February 22, 2012 4:20:28 PM
Subject: [CT Birds] Cutting the Starbucks habit, but not coffee
For months my wife and I have been saying that we should kick our
twice-a-day coffee habit at Starbucks. Not only had become a major yearly
expense, but I felt like a hypocrite each time I went in, supporting
something I knew was bad for neotropical migrants. Finally, last month
(Jan.), we stopped going there, opting to buy shade-grown beans and making
coffee at home.
Earlier this month, our family had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica for
two weeks, birding in wonderful places such as the Osa Peninsula, Savegre
and the Central Cordillera. As we drove through the Central Cordillera, I
was shocked to see the number of hills stripped clean by farmers to grow
millions of coffee plants. We stopped by a roadside stand to inquire about
the coffee operation and found out that 90% of the coffee beans were bought
by the Starbucks Coffee Corporation! It was an ocean of ecologically dead
land. What an eye opener.
During the rest of our trip, I was fortunate enough to find and observe
many of Connecticut’s migrants and nesting species. By not being on an
organized trip, I was able to spend a great deal of free time watching Wood
Thrush, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Great Crested Flycatchers,
Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, Tennessee, Golden-winged, Yellow,
Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Black-and white and Wilson’s Warblers
as they fed with resident species in a lush, tropical rain forest habitats.
If you’re a birder and enjoy drinking coffee as much as I do, consider
switching to shade-grown coffee beans and support a farming practice that
is better for neotropical migrants. Until I saw it with my own eyes, I
really didn’t understand how harmful coffee production was to birds. A
tweak in ones habits (whether you quit or switch to certified shade grown)
can go a long way for bird conservation as well as for one’s wallet.
Read this very informative article about bird friendly, shade grown coffee
here;
Scroll down to the end of the article to read about Cerulean Warblers.
http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2009/02/trader-joes-cof/
More info here;
If anyone has a lead on a legitimate certified shade grown coffee brand,
please forward their name to me.
Paul Cianfaglione
Canton
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for
the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
Paul:
Another excellent option for bird lovers who want excellent coffee is Birds and Beans, http://www.birdsandbeans.com/coffee.html This brand was started by ornithologists working at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and carries up to three certifications: all coffees have the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centers bird friendly seal which has probably the highest standards for shade grown canopy cover and landscaping, the USDA's organic grown seal and most also carry the Fair Trade seal ensuring the best possible labor practices are conducted on the coffee finca.
Russ Greenberg of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center has been deeply involved in this project including the research of the certification process, impacts on birds of all the various styles of coffee growing and health and economic potential for shade grown coffee farmers.
Birds and Beans spoke persons include Ken Kaufmann, Scott Weidensaul, Bridget Stutchbury, Wayne Petersen, and Ken Rosenberg.
The coffee has several roasts, mild, medium, and strong as well as decaffiniated. You can buy it on line at the site I referenced above or at an expanding line of small grocers and the outlets. Purchase on the Birds and Beans site will cause a dollar of your purchase to go to the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center I believe. If you prefer to support the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, buy it on their website in the Shop for a Cause section. If you want to stop by the Audubon Greenwich Center we have it there. Or, as another option for those with websites of their own or their organization, contact Birds and Beans yourself and sell the coffee From your site and they will donate a portion of sales to your organization.
In a consumer driven society our purchases will drive the Starbucks of the world to decide if they should offer shade grown. For those who want to enjoy coffee we can make a real difference in the wintering grounds of many CT summer residents if we buy shade grown and move the coffee industry to a more avian responsible place.
John Hannan
Sent from my iPad
On Feb 22, 2012, at 4:20 PM, "paul cianfaglione" pgcianfaglione@gmail.com wrote:
For months my wife and I have been saying that we should kick our
twice-a-day coffee habit at Starbucks. Not only had become a major yearly
expense, but I felt like a hypocrite each time I went in, supporting
something I knew was bad for neotropical migrants. Finally, last month
(Jan.), we stopped going there, opting to buy shade-grown beans and making
coffee at home.
Earlier this month, our family had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica for
two weeks, birding in wonderful places such as the Osa Peninsula, Savegre
and the Central Cordillera. As we drove through the Central Cordillera, I
was shocked to see the number of hills stripped clean by farmers to grow
millions of coffee plants. We stopped by a roadside stand to inquire about
the coffee operation and found out that 90% of the coffee beans were bought
by the Starbucks Coffee Corporation! It was an ocean of ecologically dead
land. What an eye opener.
During the rest of our trip, I was fortunate enough to find and observe
many of Connecticut’s migrants and nesting species. By not being on an
organized trip, I was able to spend a great deal of free time watching Wood
Thrush, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Great Crested Flycatchers,
Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, Tennessee, Golden-winged, Yellow,
Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Black-and white and Wilson’s Warblers
as they fed with resident species in a lush, tropical rain forest habitats.
If you’re a birder and enjoy drinking coffee as much as I do, consider
switching to shade-grown coffee beans and support a farming practice that
is better for neotropical migrants. Until I saw it with my own eyes, I
really didn’t understand how harmful coffee production was to birds. A
tweak in ones habits (whether you quit or switch to certified shade grown)
can go a long way for bird conservation as well as for one’s wallet.
Read this very informative article about bird friendly, shade grown coffee
here;
Scroll down to the end of the article to read about Cerulean Warblers.
http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2009/02/trader-joes-cof/
More info here;
If anyone has a lead on a legitimate certified shade grown coffee brand,
please forward their name to me.
Paul Cianfaglione
Canton
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org