D.R. Congo Coffee

South Africa's first Certified Fairtrade coffee roaster, Bean There sources exclusively from African origins and cuts out middlemen entirely through direct trade relationships. The operation is rooted in Johannesburg, where a warehouse at 44 Stanley doubles as roasting facility and cafe, with a second location in central Cape Town. Beans arrive from Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu region, among other African countries. The best seller is the Ethiopia roast from the Fero Cooperative in Sidamo, with floral aroma and citrus overtones. In 2016 alone, Bean There paid an additional direct fair trade premium of R780,000 to that cooperative, funding agronomist training, school upgrades, and the establishment of electricity services. The company's stated commitment extends beyond sourcing to include paying living wages to all staff in South Africa.