My blood is black. Be a wise buyer.

A weird title? Read on.

Before anything else, bear in mind that I am not an expert or anything, unlike someone who is expert of a lot of things. I planned on writing as much information about coffee but this lots of reading had my head spinning I can't organize my thoughts lol!

We all know that there are lots of studies and researches out there talking about the benefits and bad effects of coffee. But I am not going to talk about that. This is just my take of coffee at a glance.

Just a sip of coffee.

Once you go black...

My coffee experience started with drinking 3-in-1 coffee, those that come in packets complete with creamer and sugar and God knows what. I am not a coffee lover but when I started working, that's when I started drinking coffee. I don't stick with just one brand. There are too many choices out there. I want to try them all! Some are locally produced. Some are imported. There are different flavors. Even when you go to cafes, there are too many choices, different sizes, different kinds. Even a source of coffee by itself can't be zoned in to just one place. Just thinking about all these, it is mind boggling how coffee can't simply be called just coffee. Where is it sourced? Where country did it come from? Where was it grown? Every region now seems to have their own kind of coffee.

There came to a point that I grew tired of choosing which kind of coffee I should drink. So I simply started with black coffee. At first, I would put cream and sugar. I gradually started putting less creamer and less sugar for even those my taste buds grew tired of them. I like to eat sweets anyway to sugar was the first to go. Soon, the creamer had to go to.

So I am left with just the black, bitter hot liquid.

Lots of times, we would go people watching - spending time together sitting in a cafe where we have a view of the street and people and cars passing by. I would drink unlimited coffee while observing the streets. It's one of the ways we would do to talk about things - work, family, friends, current events, etc. We do this a lot especially rainy season. Coffee and rain are a perfect pair.

Just like food hunting, we would go checking out for places to have coffee. Where is the best spot? Where is the best location to hang out? To have peace to enjoy your cup? It is easier now to check for new places because you can see them posted in every social media. Every one is in search for something new. Every one is in the race to post first. Every one wants to show their photography skills.

Benguet coffee, are you sure?

The coffee industry here in the Philippines is growing or should I say struggling to survive? According to this site, Mindanao, one of the three major islands of the Philippines, grew the most number of coffees. All around the country, there are coffee growers. With the advent of coffee shops springing up everywhere, the number of coffee lovers growing, the farmers had to keep up with production. Sadly, competition is tough. Not within the country but from imports.

Probably because of demand, more and more are importing coffee. This, however, had a significant effect to the local farmers. These imports sell way cheaper than what we grow here. Why is local coffee pricey? The cost of production and the volume of how much coffee is produced. Aside from the cost and labor of growing them, processing and transporting them from farm to buyers are also costly.

As if that is not enough, here comes the fakers. Premium coffee from locally grown products are sought after. To scam the people, imports are labeled as Benguet coffee, Sagada coffee, etc and sell them way cheaper. The innocent consumers would then be easily fooled for now they can buy these coffee at an affordable price.

The best Arabica coffees are those from high elevated regions just like the Cordilleras. During one of the conferences held in Baguio City, Benguet Arabica bested all those grown in the country. However, according to Ark of Taste, it is a dying industry for the younger generation doesn't want to farm and would rather work some place else. Thus, production is dwindling. (I'm not sure how this pandemic changed the course of the production of this coffee.)

Sagada farmers can only produce a few coffee a year.

These are just a few of the scenarios that farmers face. To think that there is an unending supply of cheap Benguet and Sagada coffee in the market makes one think if these are really original.

How can these local farmers compete with the market if there are those imported products sold way cheaper? These are even mislabeled which makes it even worse.

How to help the local coffee industry?

Simple: BUY DIRECTRLY FROM FARMERS.

I am guilty.

I too have been buying from our market from sellers who sell cheap "Benguet coffee." However, since learning about some of the plight of our farmers, I am more wary what to buy and where to buy.

With the help of the internet, there are online sellers (check out this group) who sell premium coffee directly from local farmers. Again, be wise and ask. Always do your research. Avoid the mislabeled coffee products out there.

It is important to BUY LOCAL and SUPPORT LOCAL. Same is true with other products. To help our locality improve and grow, let us continue to support them. Although we are getting recognition abroad, it's not enough for cheaters are out there. They have been there for so long, even before all these awards. These awards and/or breakthroughs in research to improve our coffee industry would be useless if we don't start patronizing our own now.

If you are not a coffee lover, you can inform those you know who drink coffee to be more mindful of what to buy. Ask them to buy directly from farmers or from suppliers who sell coffee from our local farmers.

Not only in coffee should we support our own but in everything, your friends, your family, your neighbor.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting.

*All contents are mine.