Sustainable Shopping: Why You should Buy Locally Roasted Coffee

Do you love coffee? Do you ever find yourself searching “how to shop sustainably?” You’re not alone! In the coffee community, it’s important to shop sustainably and support ethical coffee farming practices. At Honeybee Coffee and Brewery, we make that easy! 

Consuming locally roasted coffee helps support the farmers who work hard to produce high-quality local coffee beans. We know exactly where our beans are coming from; down to the region, elevation, and the names of the farmers. 

Benefits of Shopping Local

Reducing the Carbon Footprint

You read that right! When you opt to purchase your coffee from a locally owned business, you are making a positive impact on the environment. According to Forbes, shopping at local businesses helps to reduce the carbon footprint because a local small business will  make more local purchases, requiring less transportation (less pollution and congestion). Since they are local, it will also reduce traffic, habitat loss and resource depletion.

Boosting the Local Economy 

Every time you buy locally roasted coffee in Knoxville, TN, you support the local economy. Shopping locally keeps your money in your community, and it creates positive economic growth. For example, if you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays within your local economy. Okay, no more numbers- we promise. 

Ethical Farming 

It’s no secret that the price of coffee has had a notable increase, but did you know that the coffee farmers are not seeing the benefit? Unfortunately that’s the case, unless you purchase locally roasted beans that are ethically sourced. At Honeybee Coffee and Brewery, coffee is the platform we use to care for others. That means we work with reputable suppliers that deal directly with the farmers, ensuring that they are adequately compensated for their beans and that fair trade pricing prevails. Farmers are fairly rewarded for their beans, and fair trade pricing emerges.

When you choose locally roasted coffee, you're supporting ethical practices and sustainable shopping. We prioritize direct trade relationships with farmers, ensuring fair prices for their beans and promoting sustainable farming practices. By supporting our local business in Knoxville, TN, you are contributing to the well-being of coffee-growing regions around the world.

Locally Roasted = Better Taste 

If the local and global economic impact of purchasing locally roasted coffee isn’t enough to convince you, let’s talk about taste. 

The way coffee is roasted is actually what determines its taste. So that floral, nutty aroma that you love? It doesn’t just happen! Unlike mass-produced coffee, which often sacrifices quality for quantity, we pay close attention to detail, ensuring you drink a delicious cup of coffee. We roast our beans to their perfected state, carefully and delicately tending to all of the nuances and flavors of each one to create the best coffee Knoxville residents have ever tried. 

The freshness of coffee beans also plays a significant role in taste. Whole coffee beans have a long shelf life, however, that is not the case once they have been ground. As a good rule of thumb, ground coffee should be consumed within 2 weeks for a fresh taste and aroma. Do you think all those bags of ground coffee at the grocery store are getting taken off the shelf every two weeks? Yeah- we don't think so either. 

When you purchase coffee beans from any of our 4 locations, you can be sure that you are purchasing the freshest (and yummiest) coffee beans in East Tennessee! 

Choosing locally roasted coffee over store bought allows you to enjoy a higher quality cup of coffee, while also supporting the local economy and farmers who produce the coffee beans. We prioritize ethical and environmentally friendly practices, making our coffee a good choice for socially conscious consumers. At Honeybee Coffee and Brewery, we pride ourselves on sourcing only the highest quality beans from reputable farmers and roasting them in small batches to ensure flavor and freshness. 

Visit us at Honeybee Coffee and Brewery and taste the goodness of locally roasted coffee! We also offer a subscription service with weekly, biweekly, and monthly coffee options.

Norris Hill