Brewing a Better Cup: Sustainability at Compass

At Compass Coffee, our commitment to sustainability is simple: we believe in doing things the right way, for people and the planet.

In practice, this means we focus on three key areas:

• Sourcing: We work with farms that uphold the highest standards of sustainable farming and the ethical treatment of people, ensuring our coffee is grown with care for both the planet and its people.
• Roasting: We use ultra-high efficiency equipment to minimize the environmental impact of our operations.
• Operations: We choose local, sustainable materials for our packaging and cafe construction.

Why? Because it just makes sense. The coffee economy is a huge, wonderful network of growers, pickers, roasters and baristas all over the world. It’s fragile and beautiful. We are committed to strengthening this amazing network so that we can continue to roast and enjoy Real Good Coffee for many, many years to come - and so that you can feel good about drinking the coffee you love.

Ethically sourced for people and planet

Sustainability isn't a new initiative at Compass Coffee – it’s at the core of every decision we make, and has been since we opened our doors in 2014!

We build deep, lasting relationships with our farmers at origin. This means we work directly with them to ensure that every one of our partner farms upholds the highest standards of ethical growing practices, from how they treat the earth, to how they treat their people.

At the same time, we’re constantly innovating here at Compass Coffee HQ, rethinking the way we source our coffee, roast our beans, and minimize our environmental impact in the cafes we build.

We’re committed to:

1. Sourcing our coffee the right way: Coffee is a crop, and like all crops, it can be grown in harmony with its natural environment. But what "sustainable farming" means in practice is always unique to the local conditions of each farm. That's why we only work with farms that uphold the highest standards of sustainable practices, tailored to their unique biomes and growing conditions.

For example, in the highlands of Guatemala, we partner with farms that preserve the natural tree canopy covering the hillsides. This practice, often called "shade grown" or "bird-friendly," protects the local ecosystem while helping to grow exceptional coffee.

In a drier climate, like that of Ethiopia, the focus shifts to water conservation. There, we work with farmers who use low-water processing methods, such as naturally drying beans in the sun, rather than running them through a water mill. It is an approach that is not only sustainable but also helps to create a distinctive flavor profile.

By adapting our standards to the specific conditions on the ground, we ensure that every bean is sourced with care for both the planet and the people who grow it.

2. Designing our cafés thoughtfully: We build our cafés to be green from the start, using upcycled materials and high-efficiency equipment.
3. Caring for the planet: We're always taking thoughtful steps to shrink our environmental impact, from how we package our coffees to the local organisations we partner with to donate waste and recycle materials.

The SEAL of approval

Like everything at Compass Coffee, we believe sustainability should be simple. While the world of eco-conscious practices can feel overwhelming, we’ve found that our greatest impact comes from the small, deliberate decisions we make every day.

That’s why we created our "Sustainability Seal." This seal serves as a guide and reminder for everyone at Compass Coffee to make simple, earth-friendly choices. It’s a way of focusing on the little things, from how we handle waste to how we power our roasters, so that our collective impact becomes something truly significant. We know that by adding up many small decisions, we can make a big difference.

How does the sustainability seal make a difference to your coffee?

The Compass Coffee sustainability seal means you can trust in thoughtful, responsible coffee sourcing and production. This includes:

1. Relationships with coffee farmers: We build and maintain strong relationships with our farmers to ensure that all of our farms follow sustainable coffee growing practices - and that they take care of their people.
2. Eco-friendly roasting: We use ultra-efficient, custom-built Loring coffee roasters that produce 83% less emissions than a standard coffee roaster.
3. Energy-efficient coffee machines: In our cafés, we use innovative, ultra-high efficiency Modbar brewing equipment.
4. Recyclable packaging: We source our 100% recyclable packaging from local suppliers (our tins are made in Baltimore by a family business!), cutting down on the environmental impact of shipping materials across the country or around the world.
5. Donating to the local community: We partner with local organizations to find second lives for spent coffee bags, grounds, and beans.
6. Sustainable construction: Our cafés are built using upcycled construction materials and ultra-high efficiency lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Building relationships with coffee farmers

Our coffee comes from small family farms in parts of Latin America, Africa, and East Asia. For us, the journey from the farm to your delicious espresso is a story about people and partnership, not just a product.

We've developed direct relationships with our farmers so we can get to know them personally and understand their unique stories. We visit their farms to see firsthand how the coffee is grown and harvested. These farms are often in remote, challenging areas, and what works for one farm may not work for another. That's why we take the time to understand the local conditions, from water availability and soil health to labor practices and community needs, to ensure each farm is following the best possible methods for their specific environment.

By developing a deep understanding of the unique community, geography, and ecology of every farm, we can ensure that sustainable practices are followed on the ground and help our partners not only produce exceptional coffee but also build a better future for their communities.

Sustainable roasting

Roasting coffee can consume a lot of energy and create considerable emissions. Statistics vary, but based on a paper from the European Journal of Sustainable Development, roasting one pound of coffee can produce 1.64 to 1.76 pounds (0.744 to 0.801 kilograms) of CO2. That's equivalent to the CO2 emissions from driving a typical gasoline-powered car for about 2.2 to 2.5 miles.

As a coffee roaster, we knew we needed to do better than that! And so began our journey to choosing an energy-efficient coffee roaster.

Regular roasters use a large burner for the beans, plus a separate "afterburner" to clean smoky exhaust. While this removes smoke, it wastes huge amounts of energy and creates more carbon emissions during roasting.

The answer for Compass Coffee? The eco-friendly Loring Smart Roaster. Here's how it works:

• Less fuel: Our Loring roasters recirculate hot air and clean the exhausts simultaneously. It results in an 83% reduction in fuel consumption compared to traditional roasters.
• Reduced carbon footprint: The Loring's massive drop in fuel use, combined with a smokeless burn system, leads to 83% less CO2 and other greenhouse gases from roasting.
• A clean roast: The Loring's single burner cleans the air during roasting, delivering a much cleaner, more consistent roast. It's not just great for the environment, it also means better, more refined flavors in your coffee!

Because we use Loring roasters, choosing Compass Coffee means you're making a more environmentally friendly choice with every espresso, cappuccino, and latte.

Brewing Better

Beyond roasting, we also focus on sustainability right in our cafés, especially with how your coffee is poured. If you've visited the Compass Coffee shops in Washington, D.C., you might have noticed our sleek, under-counter espresso machines. These are Modbar units, and they're not just about modern design – they're about eco-friendly coffee making.

Modbar is one of the best brands for innovative, under-counter coffee brewing equipment. A must for serious coffee houses! Modbar is part of the La Marzocco family, a highly respected Italian manufacturer of traditional espresso machines.

As a Benefit Corporation, La Marzocco is legally committed to sustainable and transparent business practices, aiming to create a positive impact with a minimal environmental footprint. This same commitment is built right into Modbar's design and function.

Here's how our Modbars help make your Compass Coffee more sustainable:

• Smart energy use: Modbars are specifically designed to be highly energy-efficient. They use on-demand heating, meaning they only heat the water when needed. Traditional machines often keep large boilers hot all day, constantly consuming energy. Our Modbars minimize this wasted heat and power.
• Reduced water waste: Modbar's precise temperature control and efficient heating systems allow for more effective water use per espresso shot. Less efficient systems often waste coffee by pulling inconsistent espresso shots or waste water through constant rinsing.
• Precision for perfection: Modbars offer baristas exact control over temperature and pressure. In turn, this helps them perfectly extract the flavors from every coffee bean. Consistent results mean less trial-and-error, reducing wasted coffee and ensuring you always get the best taste.

Keeping it Local

At Compass Coffee, we make sure our packaging is as sustainable as our coffee, focusing on local sourcing and full recyclability.

Here's how we put that into practice:

American steel tins

Our coffee tins are made from American steel, sourced and manufactured right in Baltimore by Independent Can, a family-owned business with over 100 years of history.

How does local sourcing contribute to sustainability?

• Lower CO2 impact: Sourcing locally means less shipping, fewer emissions, and lower costs. We drive the tins down from Baltimore ourselves, avoiding overseas transport. This also supports local businesses in our community.
• Durable and reusable: Made from top-quality American steel, our tins are incredibly durable and recyclable. They're perfect for reuse – think planters, pen holders, or kitchen containers.
• Refill program: Not feeling crafty? Bring your tin back to any cafe for a refill and get $2 off your coffee. Some regulars have been refilling the same tins since 2014!
• Recyclable Nespresso pods: We chose aluminum for our Compass Coffee Nespresso pods, even though it costs a bit more than plastic. Why? Because aluminum pods are 100% recyclable. You get the same great coffee with less waste. Just toss them in your recycling bin when you're done.

Building Community

Beyond your cup of coffee, our commitment to sustainability blossoms in the community! We're actively transforming coffee byproducts into valuable resources for local green initiatives and garden projects.

Here's how we give back, directly from our operations:

• Donating burlap bags: Our green coffee beans arrive in sturdy burlap bags. Burlap is a coarse, woven fabric made from natural plant fibers, most commonly jute. Instead of tossing these biodegradable bags, we donate them to local gardeners and community projects. They're excellent for use as natural grow bags, for protecting plants, and even for preventing weeds.
• Recycling coffee grounds: What about all those used coffee grounds? We collect and donate them too! Spent coffee grounds are a fantastic natural fertilizer, enriching soil and improving its structure for healthier plants. They also contain nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. As an added benefit, they can even serve as a natural, non-toxic deterrent for pests like slugs.

By repurposing these materials, we're reducing our waste and helping to build greener, healthier neighborhoods.

Building Green

When we build or renovate Compass Coffee cafés, we prioritize sustainable materials, construction choices, and fittings. We focus on minimizing our environmental impact through smart choices in construction and design:

• Sustainable materials and local sourcing: We use upcycled, recycled, or responsibly sourced materials whenever possible, which significantly reduces construction waste. Sourcing locally reduces long-distance shipping and lowers transportation emissions, while also supporting local economies.
• Energy-saving lights: Our cafes use LED bulbs throughout. These aren't just bright. They use up to 75% less electricity than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs and last about 25 times longer.
• Efficient water heaters: Instead of constantly heating a big tank of water, we install high-efficiency, on-demand water heaters. These systems only heat water when needed, which can cut energy use by 24% to 34% compared to traditional models.
• Smart thermostats: We use Nest Thermostats to manage heating and air conditioning. These smart devices learn the daily energy patterns in our cafés. Smart thermostats automatically power down after closing, helping us save 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling costs.
• Ultra-efficient HVAC: Our cafés also feature ultra-high-efficiency HVAC systems. Heating and cooling account for a significant portion of a building's energy use. Upgrading to high-efficiency units maintains comfortable temperatures using significantly less energy.

Join us (and the Sustainability Seal) on our journey to better coffee!

The commitment to sustainability at Compass Coffee runs deep. From our energy-saving roasters and eco-friendly cafés to our reusable packaging and community garden initiatives, every step is taken with the planet in mind.

When you choose Compass, you're choosing more than just Real Good Coffee. You’re supporting a network of incredible farms and communities who are working together to ensure that we preserve the precious ecology of the world’s coffee growing regions for future generations.