[비즈한국] Every morning, the sip of coffee we take is layered with the lives of many people. Most consumers know this, but they rarely choose to think about it. We like to believe that drinking coffee is an expression of individual taste, but in reality, it is closer to accepting a result condensed with the lives and efforts of countless others.
That long and complex journey constantly continues just outside our field of vision. From the hands picking coffee cherries on distant mountains, to the shoulders bearing bags full of green beans, the eyes adjusting temperatures in front of urban roasters, and finally, the subtle movements of the barista handing over the cup. Coffee arrives before us carrying the traces left by all these times and people. And we, barely noticing those traces, remember it simply as a "favorite flavor."
‘Revolving Futures’ (Gongjeon Mirae), an interview collection published by Coffee Libre—a pioneer in the domestic specialty coffee market—quietly illuminates those very traces. It features not only those at the "center of the coffee industry" such as farmers, roasters, and baristas, but also those orbiting the periphery of coffee in their own unique paths: the quick-service delivery drivers who have maintained a relationship with Coffee Libre for years, farms that practice circularity by receiving coffee byproducts, and small shops committed to zero-waste.
Coffee Libre has long contemplated the sustainability of coffee. Their ironclad rules are to trade ethically and manufacture in a sustainable way. They feature the faces of the farmers who produce the coffee, educate producers for the self-reliance of coffee farms, and send children to school. Their efforts have been recognized to the point of receiving B Corp certification, an international sustainability assessment system.
We are all revolving in our own respective orbits. Just as revolving planets influence each other's gravity to create order, the various orbits of coffee and life also influence one another, creating a new future. ‘Revolving Futures’ is a polyphonic story of the universe where these orbits occasionally overlap, waver, and move forward once again. I hope this book serves as a small inspiration to all who love coffee and to those who dream of a better future. - Page 5.
Coffee trees bear cherry-shaped red fruits. When these are picked and the pulp and mucilage are removed, seeds remain. These seeds are called "green beans." When roasted, green beans become coffee beans, and during this process, a thin layer called "chaff" falls off. Abroad, it is sometimes used as fertilizer, but in Korea, it is often discarded without being utilized. Coffee Libre sent this chaff to a native chicken farm in Paju, Gyeonggi-do. Once the chicken footprints and excrement pile up on the chaff-covered farm floor, that soil is used again as compost for orchards. It is the moment coffee husks lead to another life.
While there are many female workers on coffee farms, it is difficult for women in the coffee industry to become leaders or hold decision-making power. There are also restrictions on owning land or receiving loans. Ansha Yassin, vice-president of the Ethiopian Women in Coffee Association, educates women in the industry and helps them grow into leaders. She also studies and teaches farming methods that do not harm the environment to ensure the sustainability of Ethiopian coffee.
Mely, who lives between Peru and England, starts her day with her first cup of coffee after changing her child's diaper. After dropping her kids off at daycare, she drinks her second cup at the office. Mely, who runs a Peruvian coffee farm and company, finds her hope in raising her children well. She finds joy in simple meals shared with family and wishes for her children to grow into humble, deep-hearted people. To share this joy sustainably, she is building economic foundations for local communities, such as by opening cafes across Peru.
As such, while the book centers on coffee, it ultimately converges on the stories of people. The climate of a farm, the daily life of a city, the structure of a local community, and the hopes of a family may seem to exist independently with no relation to one another, but they maintain a certain distance while exchanging the gravity of coffee. As you turn the pages and follow their lives, you realize anew that the daily rituals we repeat are, in fact, part of a vast connection.