Direct trade coffee gains ground; Fair Trade exec calls it 'doomed to be small'

About half of the green coffee that spins and pops in Mark Barany's roaster in Bellevue comes from farms he knows. Barany (in photo by Seattle Times photographer Steve Ringman) has not visited them yet. His roastery and Seattle cafe, Kuma Coffee, are just a few years old and do not throw off lots of cash and free time for trips abroad.

Direct trade growing among coffee bean buyers

A growing group of coffee roasters have become disenchanted with the Fair Trade model and think they can do better. Known as direct trade, their movement is small and does not have uniform definitions or guidelines. Customers often have to take the roaster's word for it that growers were paid fairly.

CapVest's United Coffee Buys Cafes Pivard In Bid To Unify Market

CapVest's United Coffee Buys Cafes Pivard In Bid To Unify Market

'Coffee shop' style church has relocated to Grandview

An area church relocating in the Grandview area offers what its pastor calls a modern "coffee shop" atmosphere at its Sunday worship service.

New & Noted

Hospice benefit is a gourmet affair, Budina opens casually, more coffee from Tazza Mia, saddle up to a Chinese food bar and observe Rosh Hashanah with brisket.