About Fantine
Who we are
We are a green coffee digital sourcing solution created with producers and roasters.
We have been hearing for several years about the urgent need to improve transparency and inclusivity in the coffee supply chain but felt that something was still missing. In 2019, founders Laura and Federico got together with producers and roasters to understand what they needed and now we are here with our platform with which we aim to be useful and 100% transparent to the coffee community.
Behind Fantine there’s a team with more than 15 years of experience in coffee production, processing and logistics.
We have been hearing for several years about the urgent need to improve transparency and inclusivity in the coffee supply chain but felt that something was still missing. In 2019, founders Laura and Federico got together with producers and roasters to understand what they needed and now we are here with our platform with which we aim to be useful and 100% transparent to the coffee community. Behind Fantine there’s a team with more than 15 years of experience in coffee production, processing and logistics.
What we do
We make green coffee trading more transparent and empower the producers to sell their coffee more easily and directly.
There are plenty of coffee farmers doing great work in terms of quality, innovation and environmental protection but they can’t easily access new markets. The current system of Direct Trade, unfortunately, only benefits those that are already in the Specialty Coffee market and does little to help the ones trying to get into that “elite” group. We want to disintermediate and make the supply chain more efficient and we believe that the best way to do so is to bring transparency, efficiency and clear information on a digital platform.
We are not a regular importer, we do not buy green coffee from producers and then resell it. Our value is to offer you our platform, the logistics, the quality audits and the customer service, so that the producers can sell their harvests. We also support farmers to find the services they need when they don’t have a high degree of vertical integration.
Fantine for Roasters
Why choose Fantine?
The best way to source fresh coffee.
Buy outstanding lots or micro-lots in advance.
Certified sensory and physical quality.
Flexible quantities and easier logistics for roasters.
Support innovation at origin.
Support a coffee industry based on fairness and transparency.
Truly ethically sourced.
Buy directly from producers, not just from exporters.
The Problem
The coffee supply chain is a broken chain
The coffee supply chain is complex and intricate. Not only does it have several steps, but it also involves a lot of hands. Each step is chipping away the producers’ margin considerably. Besides that, the green coffee price is tied to the commodity market, which is ruled by volatility and speculation and does not differentiate among different qualities.
We want to improve a value chain that has been operating in the same way for more than 50 years and that has always seen the producer as the most disconnected link in the chain.
Fantine for Farmers
What happens when you buy directly from the producer?
When you do direct trade, you empower producers to influence the selling price of their coffee. This is especially important for producers who work very hard to improve the quality of their coffee because they are motivated to reinvest part of their earnings in their crops.
Supporting an efficient value chain allows the producer to obtain better profits. This is not only a motivation for the producer but also a way to improve the social condition of many families.
Rural families with higher incomes = more prosperous communities.
Producing coffee is a very demanding job
Risks such as low prices, high volatility of the commodity market, climate change, the increasing costs of fertilizers, among others, are constant challenges that producers have to face. Additionally, the average farmer’s income has not changed in the past 20 years – or has actually declined when taking into account increased farming costs.
Obtaining better profits is particularly important for producers committed to improve the quality of their coffee, because they are motivated to reinvest part of their earnings in their crops.
Conscious purchases are a relief for the producer and the environment
Do you buy green coffee grown with extensive farming practices? Do you know that high-altitude grown coffee is more expensive and demanding to produce? Do you know that there are thousands of farmers producing magnificent coffee yet it is difficult for them to access the market?
If there is one thing that is certain, it is that quality green coffee is mostly produced in harmony with the environment. A fair price, traceability and transparency are the main drivers of quality and innovation at origin.
Our Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Our Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
No Poverty
Bringing prosperity to rural communities by providing coffee producers access to international markets and higher value retention for coffee growers. Beyond the usual marketing claims, these are key towards the sustainability of the industry.
Gender Equality
Working with female producers and cooperatives of female heads of household. Ensuring female producers get the right recognition and visibility for their work. Did you know that 70% of the labor force in coffee production is comprised of women?
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Improving producers’ margins, fostering job creation in rural areas and motivating younger generations to stay engaged in coffee production, restoring the social weave of rural areas and creating more stable livelihoods.
Reduced Inequalities
Enabling access to international markets and higher value retention for coffee growers. Working with cooperatives of minority groups such as former guerilla combatants and indigenous communities.
Responsible Production and Consumption
Promoting sustainable agricultural practices and responsible sourcing, beyond certifications. Increasing awareness in end-consumers about their buying decisions.
More Transparency,
Better
Quality and Transparency
We believe that the best driver of quality is transparency. Tomorrow’s economy will be driven by inclusive business models that reward excellence, quality and fair competitiveness.
Transparency in coffee is one of the most complex and substantial topics in this industry, however we believe this is a necessary step in order to ensure the sustainability of the coffee industry in the long term.
Coffee and Technology
Our mission is to use cutting-edge technology to create a coffee industry driven by inclusive business models, sustainability and transparency.
The coffee value chain needs to be redesigned in order to become completely transparent, efficient and able to generate win-win economic transactions.
