Organization Name: De La Gente Coffee
Contact: info@dlgcoffee.org
Website: De La Gente Coffee
Tell Us About Your Organization
We create economic opportunities for coffee-producing communities in Guatemala.
Location
Guatemala: Asociación De La Gente | RN 14 San Lorenzo El Cubo, Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepéquez
Vision and Long Term Objective
We envision an equitable and inclusive coffee industry that enables small-scale farmers to earn a dignified income and live prosperous lives, facilitates authentic relationships between coffee producers and buyers, and prioritizes the economic, social, and environmental needs of everyone involved.
Who We Are
We seek to cultivate conscientious coffee consumers by educating our supporters about the rise of the coffee industry in Guatemala and its impact on the communities with which we work.
How Can People Help/Volunteer With You? There are no volunteer programs, but there are three other ways to learn and collaborate. Here are the ways:
Open Trip
Open Trips are the perfect opportunity for anyone to fine-tune the appreciation for our favorite morning beverage by taking the participants to the homes and communities of the coffee growers who so diligently and delicately cultivated the beans that we’re proud to call the DLG brand.
However, our Open Trip itinerary will take us deeper than the taste, the process, and the product as we delve into the complex and often tragic history of coffee in Guatemala. It is the very commodity that enslaved and displaced entire populations but has more recently been a tool of economic empowerment within coffee-growing regions. This trip gives you a first-hand glimpse into the industry and aims to provide a more dignified income for small-scale farmers.
Origin Trip
Trips are designed for coffee roasters and coffee shop owners who are conscientious of their role within the global coffee industry. These trips allow you to forge relationships with small-scale coffee producers in Guatemala as they lead you through their fields, show you how their coffee is processed, and join you in tasting and appreciating their final product. Come get to know these small-scale producers and consider being an ally in their efforts to make coffee a sustainable livelihood in their communities.
Custom Immersion Trip
De La Gente Immersion Trips, lasting one to three weeks, begin by laying the foundation of understanding Guatemalan’s rich yet tragic history of conflict and resistance. We consider this framework fundamental to understanding and ethically interacting with the coffee-growing communities with which we partner.
Along the way, we create spaces and opportunities for mutually beneficial connections between visitors and the farmers. Beyond hearing first-hand the narratives of coffee producers themselves, we include sessions that examine the coffee industry to cultivate conscientious consumers.
As we tackle these broad and complex topics, we make sure to include time for reflection and discussion, collectively exploring possibilities for being agents of change within the coffee industry and beyond. We look forward to facilitating this engaging, impactful, and interactive experience for your group!
This is an excellent trip for young students.
What Makes You The Proudest About Your Organization?
De La Gente collaborates with five coffee-growing communities, eight cooperatives in total, representing over 150 small-scale coffee producers, and channels nearly $350,000 each year to farming communities in sales alone. We have been recognized for the quality of our coffee, our transparent relationships with the cooperatives with which we partner, and the immersive opportunities that we offer within those communities. We invite you to taste the success and experience the richness of coffee communities who are proud to say they are part of De La Gente.
