Goodcoffeefarms

Good Coffee Farms is a farm-to-cup coffee company that champions sustainable and regenerative farming practices by working directly with smallholder farmers. Founded in 2019 by Carlos Melen, the company aims to address systemic issues in the coffee industry, such as traceability and fair trade. Melen, originally from Guatemala, moved to Japan in the early 2000s, where he developed a passion for coffee, leading him to establish DARKS COFFEE in 2011 before founding Good Coffee Farms. His experiences revealed the challenges faced by small-scale producers, inspiring him to create a new model.

The company's core innovation is its proprietary eco-friendly, bicycle-powered pulper, which processes coffee cherries without requiring water, electricity, or fuel. This technology allows small-scale farmers, who often cannot afford large, expensive processing equipment, to produce high-quality coffee, add value to their crops, and significantly increase their income—in some cases by up to three times. The business model involves direct partnerships with over 250 farmers and cooperatives in countries including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Colombia. Good Coffee Farms sells its green beans wholesale to roasters, with a significant client base of over 100 roasters in Japan, and also offers retail products. Additionally, they provide a "MyFarm Contract" service, allowing clients to co-produce a unique coffee by selecting specific farms and processing methods.

Good Coffee Farms operates with a mission to be beneficial for farmers, consumers, and the planet. The company has a headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, and has received backing from investors such as the Japan External Trade Organization, KIBOW, and Reality Accelerator. Their process includes Japanese-style vinyl greenhouses for drying beans and upcycling byproducts like coffee cherry pulp into cascara tea to create additional revenue streams for farmers. By eliminating intermediaries and empowering farmers with sustainable technology, the company ensures traceability and fair pricing while reducing environmental impact.

Keywords: sustainable coffee, regenerative farming, farm-to-cup, direct trade coffee, bicycle-powered pulper, specialty coffee, smallholder farmers, coffee processing, eco-friendly technology, coffee traceability, Carlos Melen, Guatemala coffee, social impact, fair trade, upcycling, cascara, green coffee beans, wholesale coffee, coffee innovation, agricultural technology