Since the very beginning of Ritual’s coffee sourcing program, flavor has been the primary arbiter of coffee quality. We’ve avoided the labels of organic, fair trade, or direct trade. We’ve chosen instead to engage you in a discussion about the inherent qualities and unique origins of our coffee, rather than rely on potentially misleading marketing jargon.

These certifications reflect a deep dedication on the part of the producer and as our relationships with these producers deepen, so has our desire to communicate that to you. Each year, we expand the horizons of our buying, and continue to happen upon wonderful tasting coffee that is also organic.

We have been buying organically grown coffees for years, but avoided labeling them as such. These coffees are selected by Steve, our coffee buyer, and make it onto our menu based on the qualities we find in the cup, not because they’re certified organic.

As we have established a deeper connection with a growing number of organic farms, it has been hard to tell the stories of these coffees without talking about the dedication and effort of these producers. It takes a lot of planning and hard work to go organic, and can be very risky due to diseases and parasites that can obliterate entire harvests. Producers must be very diligent for organic coffees to truly thrive. We want to highlight the extraordinary efforts made by these producers by presenting organic coffees as such, and now we can; our Roastery is newly certified organic by CCOF.

In the end, nothing has changed about the way that Ritual sources, roasts, or serves our coffee. It’s still all about flavor. Don’t expect to always see organic coffees on our menu, but if you do, you’ll know that these coffees are held to the same high standards to which we hold all of our coffees.

(Photo is members of the Aramo Co-op, Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, the source of one of our favorite organic coffees!)

Featured Organic Offering
Potrerillos Organic, Equador: The Potrerillos exhibits a beautiful orange blossom aroma that turns into flavors of dried apricots, gooseberries, and graham cracker- a colorful melange that resolves in the cup with a toffee-like sweetness.