“We have come to realise that Zukuka Bora offering a higher price and bonuses, while critically important, is just part of the story. For farmers to truly maximise their return from their parcels of land and their collective efforts, quality, productivity and yield must be improved.”

- David Bishop, Zukuka Bora Coffee Company.

Despite a tough uncertain year, we’ve held on tightly to our local community (thanks to you all, old and new 😘) and also our financial commitments to our supported partners, Zukuka Bora (ZB) and Home Ground Cafe. This is good coffee, business and community ❤️

With 20c from every coffee you purchase in our venues, and our wholesale partner cafes joining in the fundraising efforts, we raised over $32K!

That’s something to be proud of.

In FY20/21, Commonfolk transparently transferred $43K to ZB across the period (held accountable by an accredited third party and reporting), including $13K for the Sipi Falls land purchase. Our inaugural Good Coffee Day (GCD) pulled thirteen cafe venues together alongside so many of you coffee drinkers, where $1 from every coffee purchased on the day was donated directly to ZB for this land purchase. This was amidst being in and out of lockdown, a tricky and stressful time for all, especially felt by our incredible friends and wholesale partners who participated. A BIG thank you, legends.

We can confirm ZB has purchased the new site in Sipi Falls! With beautiful community support and excitement for ZB’s permanence and the opportunities this brings. The final step is official registration of the transfer of ownership, not the simplest process in Uganda. The family who are the previous owners are also coffee farmers who partner with ZB. Despite much interest in their land from other buyers, they wanted to ensure ZB were the new stewards, trusting the mutual benefit this will mean for their family and neighbours. Dave, Kenneth and the team will share fresh video updates once registration is official.

Commonfolk’s $30K ZB commitment in FY20/21 successfully co-funded the brand spanking new greenhouses (which dried all those natural lots we love), a new sample roaster for the developing lab, and infrastructure and transport upgrades. All having immediate significant influence on coffee quality and subsequently, economic empowerment for so many people across the ZB network and Mt Elgon communities.

Usually November sees some Commonfolk team over in Mbale to share quality time with the ZB team and communities across Mt Elgon. While this is significantly missed and a known privilege, we’re grateful for regular communication with Dave and the team regardless. Tommy has also locked in Commonfolk’s commitment to buying coffee for this new coffee season just begun, an increase on last year’s volumes and alongside a growing cohort of new roasters and importers. Andy and Sam have been at the forefront of building this relationship over the years, a commitment to people first, quality coffee second. This has consequently grown connection and coffee quality, year on year.

Zukuka Bora FY21/22: On the back of over twenty years of typically very low commercial coffee prices in Uganda, there is a serious lack of incentive for people to invest in their coffee gardens. ZB’s 21/22 project is centred on improving quality and also yields per tree, two demands from farmers that will reap significant economic benefits in the short and longer terms. With a team being up-skilled and ready for activation, Commonfolk has committed $20K to this year’s projects which are centred on providing resources for accessing and supporting the farmer training which will result in increased yields for years to come. The project plan is very organised and implementation has begun.

Home Ground Cafe: We’re mighty proud of these pals for how they continue to activate community and accessible hospitality amidst lockdowns. While we only had a limited run with trainees this year, we’re excited for Term Four kicking off and to be welcoming a new group into our own training space twice in November. It’s exciting to also see the new and improved training programme implemented! Commonfolk’s commitment of complimentary Godfather espresso blend to HomeGround (over $15K worth in FY20/21) ensures resources are invested into the traineeship and community engagement as set out.

We’re thrilled to welcome Franki to the helm at HG, with over two decades in the local hospitality industry, Franki brings a wealth of experience and love of community to Home Ground. Franki will be leading the team through growth and improvement of the cafe, continuing to foster an environment of support and learning for our trainees, and looks forward to building even stronger roots in the Tanti community. Growing up in the Tanti estate with her parents running the milk bar, Franki has always been #ProudlyTanti.

We're excited to see where she takes the menu, the coffee, and everything else we love about HG.

Shared Value Project: A new TCTC supported partnership begins! We’ll be engaging with Ben Whitaker and the Shared Value Project in Nicaragua, where a focus on coffee farm labourer well-being is front and centre. Over the last six months, Ben has been dipping his toe into the world of Nicaraguan life. He’s living on a coffee farm in the green jungle-like hills of the Nueva Segovian coffee region, experiencing what it is like to be a Nicaraguan coffee farm worker. It’s no walk in the park. Swinging a machete is back-breaking. These farmers would spend around 8 months of the year just cutting back weeds with the machete.
The Shared Value Project is all about giving back to those in the coffee supply chain whom we have directly benefitted from. In almost every supply chain where products are exported from developing countries, the value tends to only go one way, the project is working to change that.

Our collaboration with Ben started when he handed us the reigns of his cafe, The Final Step. We’re determined to carry on its legacy and use, the new and freshly renovated Commonfolk South Yarra, as a resource to support Shared Value Project. Each coffee sold at South Yarra will contribute 20c to SVP as part of The Final Step legacy. We’ll be sharing updates from Ben with you soon.

Last but by all means not least, a cheeky acknowledgment of Commonfolk’s owners [Sam + Eliza, Andy + Kerry, Troy + Elle, & Casey] who established and sustain a business built on values and commitment to quality partnerships.

If you have any queries, encouragements, challenges or opportunities for TCTC and Commonfolk that you would like to chit chat about, please reach out to Jordy - jordan@commonfolkcoffee.com.au

TCTC Spring update 🌼