1kg Dark Roast Coffee Ground East Timor

1kg Dark Roast Coffee Ground East Timor - Espresso

[The following is reproduced from The Corner Store Network website]

The Corner Store Network was formally established in 2017 by siblings Alice and Jake Mahar, but its genesis began over 30 years ago with their introduction to social activism. The duo, along with their sister Jess, grew up on the shoulders of their parents, Andrew and Kathy, at demonstrations and protests around Melbourne: saving Albert Park from becoming a Formula 1 track, stopping the Jabiluka Uranium Mine, opposing the Iraq war and calling for a treaty for First Nations People. Each one further cemented their understanding of justice and the need to stand up for what is right in the world.

The Connection to Timor-Leste

Father and mentor, Andrew, is one of Australia’s leading social entrepreneurs, being awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his outstanding service to social justice in Australia and Timor-Leste. In 2003 Andrew, who was running Infoxchange at the time, was asked by then-Victorian Premier Steve Bracks to visit Timor-Leste and review the technology set up at the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT). In typical Andrew style, he and a couple of colleagues fixed many of the problems during their visit. However, Andrew realised there was no one on the ground at the institute who had the skills to troubleshoot problems that would inevitably arise, as they do with all things computers and internet! 

He came up with the concept to bring Timorese students from DIT to Australia and train them in information and communications technology (ICT) over the course of six months. The initiative was a success, and soon after Andrew and the Timorese students who had been studying in Australia, set up a social enterprise called InfoTimor which sent computers donated in Australia to Timor-Leste to be refurbished and sold nationally. With their newfound ICT skills, graduates of the training program were able to perform maintenance on these computers, enabling the country’s ICT industry to grow. Little did Andrew know it at the time, but his journey with creating positive change in Timor-Leste had just begun.

Single origin coffee from Timor-Leste

Our Timor coffee is wild-grown by 386 farming families in the mountains of Timor-Leste. Coffee cherries are picked by hand, then wet-processed and sun-dried right in the communities where they’re grown. The beans are then hand-sorted in Dili before being bagged up and shipped to our Melbourne coffee roastery. 

Sourced direct from farmers

Paying farmers fairly for their efforts is our M.O. We purchase green bean directly to  ensure income goes straight to farmers and their families. This direct trade model allows us to hold direct relationships with coffee farming communities, who we spend time with every year, working together to improve farming practices, increase yields and thereby raise incomes.

Every kilo plants a tree

We love our planet, so for every kilo of coffee roasted we contribute to tree planting initiatives through our Timorese partners, helping to return forests to their natural state while drawing down carbon from the atmosphere. Trees are planted through Timorese-led community tree planting initiatives, something we see as critical that locally-led initiatives are able to thrive. This circular model allows Timor coffee farmers support Timor tree farmers - by community, for community!

We pay above Fairtrade coffee rates

Coffee farmers are some of the world’s poorest farmers and standard rates just don’t cut it. That’s why we pay our farming partners above market and international Fairtrade coffee rates. For our 2023 harvest, we paid 44% above the world market price and 73% more than the international Fairtrade minimum. You can make of that what you will  but in the meantime check out our Matanova Transparency Report for more details. 

Organic coffee beans

Our coffee is organic, which means that no chemicals or nasties are used in any process, from the growing to harvesting to roasting. We are currently undergoing the rigorous process to achieve certified organic status, but until that time comes, you can rest assured knowing that there is nothing but 100% arabica coffee beans in your cup.