Lecture Description
As part of Sustainable Harvest's Unsustainable Project Campaign, we are examining unsustainable practices in the specialty coffee trade. Our goal is to foster a meaningful conversation on social, environmental, and fiscal sustainability for the industry.
This panel will explore the benefits and challenges of two key models in specialty: micro-lots and direct trade.
Micro-lots: We will discuss how micro-lots can benefit producers through premium pricing and quality differentiation, and where it might fall short. How can roasters deepen their engagement with producers?
Direct Trade: This discussion will explore the market limitations of direct trade, such as logistical and financial challenges. We’ll also examine it’s the potential for producers to engage in transparent, equitable relationships and greater autonomy within the supply chain. What more can be done to strengthen this model? What is at risk in our current market environment.
By exploring these models, we want to identify strategies that promote true sustainability and have everyone a part of the conversation. This panel will offer insights into how roasters and producers can shift from transactional relationships to long-term partnerships that drive meaningful change.
Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Room 352DEF
Category: Sustainability
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Moderator
Danna Wasserman (she/her)
Sustainable Trading Manager, Sustainable Harvest
Danna is a Sustainable Trading Manager at Sustainable Harvest, with 10 years of experience in green coffee trading. She began her career in 2014 at Zephyr Green Coffee and joined Sucafina in 2017, where she became Senior Trader and East African specialty buyer for North America. Danna joined Sustainable Harvest in 2024, expanding her direct trade network beyond East Africa. She champions the company’s commitment to transparently connecting roasters and producers. Danna currently leads initiatives focused on carbon tracking, sustainability reporting, and living income, advancing both environmental and social responsibility in the coffee industry.
Jay Kling (he/him)
Founder, Efficiency.coffee
Jay Kling is a professional green coffee buyer and the founder of www.efficiency.coffee. Jay's mission is to increase the sustainability of the specialty coffee industry by helping coffee roasters get better at supply chain management. When we manage our inventory well, project demand accurately, and run efficient supply chains, we save money that makes our businesses more sustainable. If you want to pay equitable prices for coffee at origin, you have to run a tight business at the roastery!
Yisak W. Ketema (he/him)
Marketing Manager, Testi specialty coffee
Yisak W. Ketema, a second generation member in a family owned company which is one of the leading and influential in the Ethiopian specialty export market worldwide.
Jose Rivera (he/him)
Director of Sourcing, Origin Coffee Lab
We can’t talk only about Pepe without mention his main pilar, Mariagracia, both of them have had an incredible journey, both professionally and personally, that has shaped their approach to coffee and their business. Their story speaks to the importance of experience, cultural exposure, and a deep commitment to quality. Their return to Cajamarca and focus on specialty coffee from northern Peru, especially Jaen and San Ignacio, is inspiring. Highlighting individual coffee lots and showcasing the communities behind them speaks volumes about their dedication to not just the product, but to the people who make it possible.