Peace Coffee: A Modest B-Corp Certified Coffee Roaster in Minneapolis?
If you’re searching for a wholesome local coffee roaster, we’ll make your forage easier and worthwhile. After hours of searching for an inspiring local coffee roaster in the US, we stumbled upon Peace Coffee, a B-Corp-certified coffee company in Minneapolis. What does this B-corp-certified coffee company have in store for you? Read and enjoy.
Peace Coffee 2024 Review Summary
Peace Coffee started with the mission of helping American farmers during the mid-1980s family farm crisis through funding a nonprofit agency called the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy (IATP).
Pros
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Story of Peace Coffee
Peace Coffee began not with the coffee beans but with its partner growers. It started with the mission of helping American farmers during the mid-1980s family farm crisis through funding a nonprofit agency called the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy (IATP).
The mission grew exponentially with the vision to expand further and include other countries with deep roots in sustainable farming. Peace Coffee envisions how it can be the best partner and advocate for coffee farmers to achieve long-term change and profitability in commodity farming.
To put this mission and vision into action, the Institute of Agriculture & Trade Policy’s journey began with their conversation with the coffee farmers in Chiapas, Mexico. In 1995, an IATP staff took a trip to this coffee region, listened to farmers of all sorts, and contemplated the coffee farmers’ situation.
Among farmers the IATP staff had met, the most vocal and educated about the situation were the local coffee farmers. Though initial conversations were more focused on local trade policy and state-level advocacy, farmers highlighted their struggle to make ends meet as a result of instability and lack of interest among coffee importers to pay fair wages.
Intrigued by the challenges observed by the local coffee farmers in Chiapas, the IATP decided to establish a partnership and bring coffee to Minneapolis. For the first time, IATP took the courage to forge a new fair trade model and started its coffee imports from the Chiapas region in 1996.
Since then, Peace Coffee has been committed to 100% Fair Trade-certified and organic coffee cultivated by small-scale farmers. These simple farms are local coffee cooperatives that support farmers in organizing, advocating for their rights, and sharing profits as a collective.
This sustainable coffee roaster continues to champion not only the rights of the farmers but also the society itself by pausing advertisements on social media giant Facebook for July as a response to Facebook’s long history of allowing content filled with racism, violence, and fake news to thrive in the said social media network.
Likewise, the CEO of the Minneapolis-based coffee company, Lee Wallace, was awarded the 2020 Women in Business Awards for its commitment to engaging in the region’s civic life, assisting start-up entrepreneurs in the local community, and raising awareness in social businesses.
Bike Love
Contrary to the standard four-wheeled coffee delivery model, Peace Coffee delivers fresh beans with a bike delivery system. Their two full-time and part-time bike delivery riders pedal their way to every customer while hauling an average of 1800 to 2500 pounds of coffee beans each. No matter the weather, Peace Coffee will keep on reaching out to deliver their best-tasting coffee blends.
Benefit Corporation
Peace Coffee is a modest B-certified corporation with an impact score of 100.5. This Minneapolis-based coffee company is BOTH an Organic coffee roaster and retailer AND a coffee company that advocates Fair Trade, helping small coffee farmers earn a decent wage from cultivating coffee.
Retail Locations
After Lee Wallace became CEO of Peace Coffee, the company expanded further and opened three retail shops in Minneapolis and grew its workforce from 12 to about 70 employees.
You can find Peace Coffee shops at the following locations:
- Capella Tower in 225 South 6th Street Minneapolis,
- AT&T Tower at 901 South Marquette Avenue
- Wonderland Park at 3262 Minnehaha Avenue
If you’re far from these cafes, you can also check out their Coffee Trucks that roll in Minnesota towns’ streets from May through October. Best of all, these coffee trucks are available for rent to private parties allowing you to please your guests with an unlimited supply of freshly roasted and brewed coffee, prepared by professional baristas.
Coffees Available
If you’re considering giving Peace Coffee a shot, try these Big Cup of Coffee recommendations:
Twin Cities
The Twin Cities blend is a 100% organic coffee that you can get in 12 oz, 20 oz, and 5 lbs sizes. This coffee blend pays tribute to St. Paul and Minneapolis coffee beverages’ distinct styles, making it a flavorful, balanced signature blend coffee you’ll surely love whichever side you’re from.
- Roast Level: Blend of medium and dark roast.
- Origins: Sumatra, Peru, and Honduras
- Cup Notes: Well-rounded, balanced brew with intense flavor and syrupy texture.
- Taste Notes: With hints of toasted walnuts, cocoa, and caramel tones.
- Brew Method: Drip, French Press, Pour-over, Moka Pot, AeroPress, Cold Brew
Twin Cities Blend is a dark roast coffee with a syrupy body and soft acidity, featuring nutty, honey, roasted almond, and chocolate aromas, with tasting notes of toasted walnut, cocoa, and caramel. It is an organic, fair trade, shade-grown, and freshly roasted coffee, boasting a low acid profile and certified by B Corp.
Birchwood Breakfast Blend
The Birchwood coffee blend by Peace Coffee is the perfect morning joe to pair with breakfast sunny side-ups, bacon, pancakes, or toast. You can get this coffee blend in 12oz, 20 oz, or 5 lbs coffee bag sizes or avail the coffee subscription to ensure that Birchwood will be delivered to your doorstep every 2, 3, or 4 weeks.
- Roast Level: Medium Roast
- Origins: Peru and Sumatra
- Cup Notes: Smooth body with mild acidity and appealing aromas of roasted hazelnut, graham, smoke, and vanilla.
- Taste Notes: With hints of bittersweet chocolate, honey, and cedar tones.
- Brew Method: Drip, French Press, Pour-over, Moka Pot, AeroPress
This Birchwood Breakfast Blend is an organic, medium roast coffee with a smooth body and mild acidity, characterized by a roasted hazelnut, graham, smoke, and vanilla aroma. It features tasting notes of bittersweet chocolate, honey, and cedar, and is both Fair Trade and B Corp certified. The coffee is shade-grown and freshly roasted, offering a low-acid option for a balanced and enjoyable home-brewed experience.
Guatemala
The Guatemala single-origin offered by Peace Coffee is a dark roast coffee that is rich and chocolatey. It is 100% organic coffee sourced from the Apecaform Cooperative in the Pueblo Nuevo region.
- Roast Level: Dark roast
- Origins: Guatemala
- Cup Notes: Smooth coffee with soft acidity and an enticing aroma of dark chocolate, caramelized sugar, toasted almond, and smoke.
- Taste Notes: With hints of cherry, anise, and bittersweet chocolate.
- Brew Method: Drip, French Press (highly recommended!), Pour-over, Moka Pot, AeroPress
This dark roast, organic coffee from Guatemala, is favored for its rich, sweet taste, and is a customer favorite, especially during Minnesota winters. It features a smooth body and soft acidity, with dark chocolate, toasted almond, caramelized sugar, and smoke aroma. It has tasting notes of bittersweet chocolate, cherry, and anise. The coffee is Fair Trade, shade-grown, freshly roasted, low acid, and produced by the Manos Campesinas cooperative, highlighting a strong trading relationship and commitment to small growers.
French Roast
The French Roast coffee blend of Peace Coffee allows you to experience an authentic French Roast. It has deep sugary notes and roasty flavors that accentuate the dark roasted coffee beans.
- Roast Level: Dark roast
- Origin: Peru
- Cup Notes: has a gentle body and soft acidity enveloped by the aroma of molasses, butter, smoke, and dried herbs.
- Taste Notes: With hints of dried fruit, baking chocolate, and smoke.
- Brew Method: Drip, French Press in full immersion (highly recommended!), Pour-over, Moka Pot, AeroPress
This organic French Roast coffee features a dark roast that emphasizes deep, roasty flavors and sweetness, distinguishing it from typical high-heat roasts. It possesses a soft acidity, gentle body, and an aroma profile comprising molasses, smoke, butter, and dried herbs, with tasting notes of baking chocolate, smoke, and dried fruit. The coffee is organic, fair trade, shade grown, freshly roasted, B Corp certified, and is a low acid coffee.
Yeti Cold Brew
The Yeti Cold Brew is for the adventurous. It’s a fancy coffee blend; you can enjoy hot or cold. This coffee blend tastes like sweet dark cherry with a tinge of smokiness, a perfect beverage for travelers and French Press lovers.
- Roast Level: Medium roast
- Origin: Peru, Guatemala, Nicaragua
- Cup Notes: Has a smooth and creamy body with chocolate, toast, and almond aroma
- Taste Notes: With hints of caramel, dark chocolate, and smoky undertones.
- Brew Method: Drip, French Press (highly recommended!), Pour-over, Moka Pot, AeroPress, Cold brew
This organic French Roast coffee features a dark roast that emphasizes deep, roasty flavors and sweetness, distinguishing it from typical high-heat roasts. It possesses a soft acidity, gentle body, and an aroma profile comprising molasses, smoke, butter, and dried herbs, with tasting notes of baking chocolate, smoke, and dried fruit. The coffee is organic, fair trade, shade grown, freshly roasted, B Corp certified, and is a low acid coffee.
What the Community Says
Is Fair Trade Organic Coffee Better?
We cannot overlook the debate surrounding fair trade and organic coffee brands like Peace Coffee. To clarify, these certifications and labels do not necessarily mean a higher quality coffee, but they mean that your coffee beans are ethically sourced.
Fair trade ensures proper wages for the growers while organic coffee takes a step towards sustainability as it does not use chemicals that can harm the soil, forest, and farmers.
Some people argue though that brands who exclusively sell such coffees, like Peace Coffee, are limited in their sourcing options, cutting off any sources with high-quality coffee beans who have yet to get such certificates.
Personally, I still opt for fair trade and organic coffees. Finding high-quality coffee with these labels is a win-win, knowing that I can savor a delicious cup without compromising the rights of the farmers, the environment, and the sustainability of the coffee industry as a whole.
Alternatives to Peace Coffee
Here are other coffee brands you also want to check out:
Grounds and Hounds
Grounds & Hounds excels in the coffee industry with its high-quality beans sourced ethically from top regions and a unique mission supporting animal rescue. Each purchase aids both dogs in need and fair trade coffee farmers. This company is recommended for its blend of excellent quality, reasonable prices, and a noble cause, offering a wide variety of choices.
Read our Grounds and Hounds coffee review to learn more.
The Alpha Blend Dark Roast coffee is composed of 100% Arabica beans sourced from Colombia, Guatemala, and Sumatra. It features a rich flavor profile with notes of cocoa, vanilla, nutmeg, and a smoky finish. This USDA Organic-certified coffee also supports a mission to aid dogs in need, aligning with the company's motto "Wake. Brew. Rescue. Repeat."
Volcanica
This family-owned business specializes in a wide range of gourmet coffee, ensuring top-notch quality, delightful taste, and enduring flavor. Their coffee beans are organically grown under shade, providing a chemical-free experience. For those preferring decaffeinated options, their Volcanica decaf uses the Swiss Water Method, offering a healthier alternative. Our experience with Volcanica coffee was thoroughly enjoyable, and we recommend it for its affordability and bean quality.
Read our full Volcanica coffee review for more details.
A dark roasted blend featuring sweet caramel flavor with dense spices like nutmeg and clove, designed to complement milk and pastries.
This blend combines South and Central American coffees to create a robust flavor profile. The coffee offers a bright yet rich espresso shot, characterized by balanced acidity, thick crema, and notes of caramel and cocoa.
Larry’s
Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, Larry’s Coffee is dedicated to delivering a meticulously slow-roasted coffee experience, prioritizing environmental and social responsibility in its roasting practices. Holding the status of a Certified B-Corporation, the coffee blends offered by Larry’s are distinguished by their certifications in Fair Trade, Organic, and Shade-Grown practices.
Check out our review of Larry’s coffee for more information.
The Cowboy Blend is a popular coffee mix combining Indonesian and American beans, featuring a balance of earthy Sumatran flavors and the buttery smoothness of Nicaraguan coffee. It is roasted to a level that emphasizes a full-bodied sweetness without overpowering the complex blend of spicy, roasty, and smoky flavors.
Verdict
Peace Coffee Company is a modest B-certified corporation that helps small coffee farmers and their local community. Their ways of promoting sustainability are inspiring and straightforward: from the way they treat their partner farmers to delivering your coffee beans to your doorstep. Indeed, they’re a sustainable coffee brand worth supporting.
