From the manufacturer:
French Roast is created by carbonizing the sugar content of the beans at high temperatures, sort of akin to toasting a marshmallow to black and crisp. The flavors, if done right, taste like toasted caramel or brown sugar.
I have visited the Aranjuez community in Nicaragua many times. The village is located high in the northern mountains above the city of Matagalpa.
From 1992 to 1996, we supported the village's Cooperative Solidaridad de Aranjuez with a 15 cent per package rebate. Over $30,000 was sent back to the cooperative to help them develop social and economic infrastructure. In 1997, we began a fixed-price contract agreement that guaranteed the coffee cooperative a price equal to the Fair Trade price of $1.40, even though they were not Fair Trade certified.
Since 1997, we have purchased 525,000 pounds of their coffee. Although we no longer give them an after-sale rebate, the fixed price they receive has consistently been 70 cents over the market price, and has added $400,000 to the community. As a result of the fair trade price we pay for their coffee, the community has been able to expand their school to four rooms, and are able to pay their four teachers. Most of the farmers have built brick homes and have some sort of mechanical transportation.
The coffee we purchase from Aranjuez is grown under rustic shade, and the farms are filled with birds, monkeys, jaguars and butterflies. The tall graceful shade trees hold back the sun, creating a lively community of insects and birds. Fly catchers, and several species of warblers are among the migratory guests.
