The Cupping Lab Revolution: How Thanksgiving Coffee Changed Coffee Forever

It began with a journey to Nicaragua in the 1980s. Paul Katzeff, a former social worker and co-founder of Thanksgiving Coffee, traveled to listen to the farmers. Paul had the tools and vision to create a new way forward for the coffee world.

In those war-torn hills, Paul came face to face with the quiet strength of farmers who had survived conflict, drought, and poverty. What he discovered would transform his understanding of coffee forever.

What Paul saw was that coffee could be more than just a product. It could become a tool for restoring dignity, building solidarity, and giving voice to those who had been left out of their own story.

Coffee as a Bridge Between Worlds

Paul's 1985 trip to Nicaragua occurred during the U.S.-backed Contra War—a time of immense hardship and tension. What he witnessed moved him deeply: farmers cultivating resilience amid unimaginable challenges. Meeting with PRODECOOP, one of the earliest farmer cooperatives, he understood that meaningful change would require more than charity. It would take genuine partnership.

This experience birthed a vision for direct trade built on empathy and transparency. Paul saw coffee as more than a commodity—he saw it as a bridge connecting people across borders, across struggles, and across systems built to exclude the voices of those who grow the coffee we love.

A Revolution Born from Relationship

Years later, in 2001, Paul's vision took physical form when Thanksgiving Coffee helped create the world's first farmer-owned cupping labs. It started with a simple question:

What if those who grow the coffee were also the ones to taste it first?

That question sparked a revolution—and in partnership with our co-ops like UCA MIRAFLOR and CECOCAFEN, it redefined not just how coffee is evaluated, but who gets to define its value.

This work began with trust.

When Thanksgiving Coffee first partnered with these cooperatives, they were communities rising from hardship with their own vision. Families were replanting forests, rebuilding homes, and forming cooperatives that prioritized not only trade, but democracy, biodiversity, and food sovereignty.

As field researcher Christopher Bacon wrote:

"This is a story of reconstruction and resistance... of families working together to regenerate their communities, reclaim the land, and build new institutions of democratic governance."

In these post-war communities, farmers didn't just return to the land—they reimagined its future. By placing cupping labs in their hands, Thanksgiving Coffee wasn't introducing a new tool—they were honoring a movement already in motion.

"The $300,000 enabled 9 coops to build their labs and be trained as cuppers by me using SCAA scoring forms. It is one thing to have a lab but another thing to know how to use it. Training was essential. "
- Paul Katzeff

In 1999, when most coffee buyers still made quality decisions without farmer input, Thanksgiving Coffee proposed something radical: building professional cupping labs directly within producer cooperatives in Nicaragua. With a $300,000 USAID contract and decades of field experience, these labs were constructed in 2000, becoming the world's first farmer-owned and operated cupping facilities.

The innovation couldn't have been better timed. As Third Wave coffee culture was gaining momentum in the early 2000s with its focus on single-origin beans and transparent sourcing, these cupping labs equipped farmers to meet this new demand with unprecedented precision.

Suddenly, farmers could:

• Taste and analyze their own coffee before it left the farm
• Create detailed flavor profiles previously only done by importers
• Develop specific micro-lots for specialty markets
• Experiment with processing methods that enhanced quality
• Engage in price negotiations based on verifiable quality data

By 2001, the Cuppers Manifesto was born—a bilingual manual distributed to 10,000 Nicaraguan farmers and later shared with 8,000 producers in Colombia by the Colombian Coffee Federation.

From Third Wave to Fourth: Farmers as Flavor Artists

What began as a Third Wave innovation has evolved into something even more profound—what many now call the "Fourth Wave" of coffee, where farmers themselves have become recognized artists of flavor creation.

Today's most celebrated coffees often feature not just the region or farm name, but specific processing techniques developed and perfected by individual farmers—techniques like honey processing, extended fermentation, and anaerobic processing that create distinctive flavor profiles impossible to achieve through roasting alone.

This transition—from farmers as anonymous producers to farmers as named innovators—can be traced directly back to those first cupping labs. When farmers gained the ability to taste, evaluate, and experiment with their own coffee, they unleashed a wave of innovation that continues to transform the industry.

As Paul shared in a later interview:

"Coffee is about people. If you take care of the people, the coffee takes care of itself."

These labs didn't just reflect a shift in coffee culture—they helped create it. From these humble beginnings in rural Nicaragua grew the foundations of today's artisan coffee movement, where quality and value begin at the source and rise through shared craftsmanship.

A Legacy You Can Taste

Join the Revolution in Your Cup

The Cupping Lab Revolution was more than the technology of tasting coffee. It was—and still is—about relationship, repair, and reclaiming the right to define what coffee can be.

Every cup of Thanksgiving Coffee connects you to this ongoing story of transformation—from Third Wave transparency to Fourth Wave farmer artisanship. It's an invitation to participate in a more equitable, relationship-based trade model that honors both the product and its producers.

It is about following a path with heart to let it guide you to be in good relationship with life and the world.

The Way

"The way to great coffee flavor is not direct.

The path must be traveled

with great care and attention.

The way becomes a path, the path a road,

and then, magically, the road becomes a highway

that leads to people who cultivate the land on which the coffee derives its special flavor.

How does one find the path? Through caring.

One does not search so much for the road that leads to the tree, as for the road that leads to the heart.

This is the secret." 

Paul Katzeff

Co-founder, Thanksgiving Coffee Company

Learn more:
The Story of the Nicaraguan Coffee Cooperatives

The Impact of Origin Cupping Labs

Watch the Paul Katzeff Interview

The Regenerative Connection: How Bees and Coffee Create Sustainable Ecosystems

For over half a century, Thanksgiving Coffee Company has been more than just a coffee roaster. We are storytellers, dreamers, and guardians of the delicate web of life that connects us all, witnessing the intricate dance between human intention and nature's resilience.

Imagine a single bee, wings humming against the morning light, moving from flower to flower. This tiny creature carries more than pollen—it carries the future of our food systems, our ecosystems, our very survival.

Our Bee Bold Coffee is born from a simple yet profound understanding: every living thing is interconnected, and our choices in regenerative coffee cultivation matter deeply to our planet's health.

Bee on coffee flowers

The Dance of Survival

The story of our planet's pollinators is a complex narrative of challenge and hope. We know that Bee populations are declining, native species are disappearing, and our food systems exist in a precarious balance. These are not statistics—they are a call to action, an invitation to reimagine our relationship with our natural world.

At Thanksgiving Coffee Company, we've learned that meaningful change requires more than good intentions. It demands commitment, innovation, and a willingness to work alongside nature's own wisdom. The Bee Bold Alliance embodies our most thoughtful commitment to this challenge—a holistic approach that weaves together traditional ecological knowledge, innovative research, community-driven insight, and technologies that listen to the earth.

Local Pomo and Native Tribes gathered in traditional regalia dancing for the forest and the health of Mother Earth.

Rolling Up Our Sleeves

Our mission goes far beyond a simple cup of coffee. We know that talking isn't enough. So we're doing the work—connecting with farmers, supporting indigenous communities, and building real solutions from the ground up. The Bee Bold Alliance is our commitment to practical, meaningful change. We are actively:

• Supporting regenerative agriculture
• Amplifying traditional ecological knowledge
• Investing in youth environmental education
• Creating tangible pathways for ecosystem restoration

We are learning by doing and we are growing our understanding as we collaborate for community wellbeing. So many of us have forgotten what it means to be in community, working together. This network is exactly about that - the evolution of growing healthy together.

Your Morning Ritual, Planetary Impact

Becoming a Pollinator Protector isn't complicated. We offer some simple choices: choosing Bee Bold Coffee, planting flowers that welcome bees, learning about local ecosystems, and sharing a story of hope. Each of us has the power to create change, to nurture the intricate connections that sustain life on our planet.

Small Actions, Big Changes

Want to become a Pollinator Protector? Here's how:

• Choose Bee Bold Coffee
• Plant bee-friendly flowers in your garden
• Learn about local ecosystems
• Share the story - Let us know how your garden changes once the bees know they are welcomed.

More Resources

Read More About the Bee Bold Alliance Here

Learn more from Traditional Ecological Knowledge Webinar

Read Article on Bees and Being

In the verdant highlands of Jinotega, Nicaragua, a revolutionary approach to gender equity is transforming the coffee industry. Led by the visionary Fátima Ismael, SOPPEXCCA cooperative operates on a powerful belief: "Women's independence can only be achieved through economic autonomy and awareness."

"This groundbreaking initiative doesn't just produce exceptional coffee – it creates a model for sustainable economic justice." – Thanksgiving Coffee Company

What makes this partnership unique is SOPPEXCCA's pioneering recognition of women's traditionally invisible contributions to coffee production. This approach addresses a global challenge documented extensively by international organizations including the United Nations.

Fátima Ismael, SOPPEXCCA'S General Manager

Since 2013, Thanksgiving Coffee Company has committed an additional $0.10 per pound of green coffee purchased from SOPPEXCCA – specifically allocated to recognize women's unpaid work. This initiative has now generated over $40,000 supporting women's economic empowerment.

According to UN Women research:

• Unpaid care work is essential to functioning economies but often goes uncounted and unrecognized
• Women—particularly from low-income, migrant, and racialized groups—perform more than three-quarters of unpaid care and domestic work globally
• If women's unpaid work were assigned monetary value, it would exceed up to 40% of GDP in some countries

Measurable Impact in Nicaragua

The SOPPEXCCA initiative has created transformative changes for women:

• Improved relationships among women in rural communities
• Increased active participation in economic decision-making processes
• Development of creative potential within family economies
• Financial independence through personal savings accounts
• Growing cooperative membership among women

"8 March ... Day of commemoration and new commitments for a world of equality, equity and respect .. Greetings female producers, friends and companions who have been with this organization on their way that has not been easy but together we have overcome a thousand adversities and will continue to be fighting ..." Soppexcca

Woman Farmers of Soppexcca Cooperative - Jinotego, Nicaragua

Shade Grown Coffee: Critical Habitat for Migratory Songbirds

SOPPEXCCA's commitment extends beyond economic justice. Their shade-grown cultivation methods create essential winter habitats for migratory songbirds, demonstrating how sustainable agriculture directly contributes to biodiversity conservation.

"When you choose SOPPEXCCA coffee, you're supporting both women's empowerment and environmental stewardship – values at the heart of Thanksgiving Coffee Company."

Woman Farmers from the Soppexxcca Cooperative - Jinotega, Nicaragua

UN Women's research reveals that investing in care infrastructure creates three times more jobs than equivalent investment in construction, with 70-90% of these jobs benefiting women.

The SOPPEXCCA fund represents precisely this kind of strategic investment.

Read about our support for the women of Soppexcca:

"Recognizing the Value of Womens Unpaid Work".

Celebrate the Women Coffee Farmers of Soppexcca

At Mahina Mele Farm, coffee cherries ripen while Jason plays bass music and Kollette creates healing skincare from their macadamia nuts. For twenty years, we've watched this 60-acre Hawaiian farm grow into something truly special – not just a place that grows coffee, but a living example of creative, earth-friendly farming.

Since 2006, Thanksgiving Coffee Company and Mahina Mele Farm have built a partnership as rich as the coffee they grow. When the Stiths arrived on Hawaii's Big Island in 2005, they weren't just buying land – they were starting a new way of living that respects nature.

Kolletee Stith with Ripe Kona Coffee Trees 

Their approach blends creativity with farming in beautiful ways. Jason, who plays bass in local bands like Lip Service, brings that same creative energy to growing coffee. Kollette takes their organic macadamia nuts and transforms them into Pure Mana Hawaii skincare products that capture the essence of their land. These aren't side projects – they show how deeply the Stiths care about using every gift from their farm.

Our partnership goes beyond just buying coffee. We've supported their:

• Earth-Friendly Vision: Helping a farm that works to restore natural systems

• Creative Farming: Celebrating how growing food can connect with art and new ideas

• Community Bonds: Connecting coffee lovers directly to the farmers who grow their beans

Before Hawaii, Jason and Kollette were Peace Corps volunteers helping farmers in El Salvador. Now their 60-acre farm grows both coffee and macadamia nuts while nurturing the land around them.

Double Rainbow above the Stith family home on Mahina Mele Farms in Kona, Hawaii

The journey hasn't been without problems. When coffee rust disease finally reached Hawaii – the last place on Earth that didn't have it – the Stiths found natural solutions using organic treatments that help plants fight back. When their 70-year-old macadamia trees started dying from root rot, they researched sustainable answers while planning for the future. This resilience reflects the volcanic landscape itself – finding ways to thrive in challenging conditions.

As we celebrate two decades together, we're not just marking time. We're honoring a shared belief that every choice—from the way we farm to the products we create—can be an act of love for our planet.

Kolette Stith and Sue Mandini are the minds behind Pure Mana Hawai‘i, a macadamia nut oil-based skincare line. PHOTO COURTESY PURE MANA

Walking through Mahina Mele Farm shows you their thoughtful approach to agriculture. Coffee trees grow alongside avocado trees that provide natural shade. African tulips and Ice cream bean trees add nitrogen to the soil naturally. Bananas, papayas, and healing Noni plants create a diverse ecosystem where everything supports each other.

Their coffee tastes of the volcanic soils and careful growing methods. When you brew Mahina Mele coffee, you can taste hints of brown sugar, milk chocolate, citrus fruit, and hazelnut – flavors that come from a farm where intention meets innovation.

One of the many Macadamia Nut trees on the Mahina Mele Farm supporting with valuable shade for coffee and delicious organic Mac Nuts

When you drink their coffee, you're joining this ongoing story. Each cup connects you to Hawaiian volcanic soil, to farming that protects the Earth, to Jason's music and Kollette's healing creations.

As we celebrate twenty years together, we're not just marking time. We're celebrating the belief that every choice – from how we grow coffee to what we create – can be an act of love for our planet.

We invite you to raise your cup and taste the difference that mindful farming makes. Experience coffee grown with creativity, care, and deep respect for the land – because at Mahina Mele Farm, love truly is in every origin.

Organic Kona coffee drying on the patio

Lilies blossoming in the shade on Mahina Mele Farm

Stith family from Mahina Mele farms

Ethically Sourced, Artisan Roasted:

Crafting exceptional coffee experiences since 1972 through sustainable partnerships and masterful roasting

For over 50 years, we've pioneered sustainable coffee sourcing while perfecting the art of small-batch roasting. Every bean tells a story of environmental stewardship, farmer empowerment, and uncompromising quality.

Recognition for Excellence

Honoring Exceptional Craft: A Lifetime of Roasting Mastery

Our Partner Network

Our multi-generational partnerships with farm communities stretch back decades, cultivating relationships as carefully as we roast our award-winning coffee beans

Corrales Family

25+ years of partnership in sustainable coffee cultivation and community development

- THIRD-GENERATION FAMILY RELATIONSHIP - LEADERS IN SHADE-GROWN CULTIVATION - CERTIFIED BIODYNAMIC AND ORGANIC PRACTICES - PIONEERS IN REGENERATIVE FARMING

CECOCAFEN

25+ years of partnership in sustainable coffee cultivation and community development

- CUPPING LAB PROJECT PIONEERS - COMMUNITY-DRIVEN COOPERATIVE - MULTI-GENERATIONAL FARMING EXPERTISE

Guaya'b Cooperative

25+ years of partnership in sustainable coffee cultivation and community development

- CERTIFIED BIRD FRIENDLY HABITAT - ORGANIC CERTIFICATION - SMALL FAMILY FARM COOPERATIVE MODEL - CHAMPIONS OF BIODIVERSITY

Experience Our Legacy

Join us in our mission to create exceptional coffee while making a positive impact on communities and the environment

Cupping Lab Revolution

Developed the world's first cupping labs owned and operated by small-scale farmers and cooperatives

State-of-the-art cupping lab development in Nicaragua. Global Impact that enabled the development of 3rd and 4th wave artisan coffee techniques.

Environmental Leadership

First to establish industry-wide sustainability standards

Community Innovation

This isn't just about buying beans; it's about nurturing relationships that transform communities.

Our true measure of success is the lasting impact we create in coffee-growing communities around the world.

We are continuing the legacy of exceptional coffee that makes a difference.

Pioneering Regenerative Agriculture

High in Nicaragua's pristine Arenal Forest Reserve, at 1,500 meters above sea level, Finca los Pinos stands as a testament to agricultural transformation. Here, Byron Corrales and his family have spent over four decades pioneering a different way of farming coffee. Since embracing organic practices in 1986, they've developed an innovative approach that works in perfect harmony with nature. Through their dedication to biodynamic farming, they've not only twice earned top honors for their extraordinary coffee, but they've also created a model for sustainable agriculture that's changing how we think about coffee cultivation.

A Legacy of Excellence

Our relationship with the Corrales family spans three generations, witnessing their evolution from traditional farming to becoming leaders in biodynamic agriculture. Byron's innovative spirit led him to develop the exceptional Maracaturra variety, a unique hybrid that produces remarkably large beans – distinctively bigger than typical Arabica coffee beans. This size isn't just for show; it allows for exceptional taste elements that smaller beans simply cannot achieve, delivering a remarkable sweetness and richness in every cup.

the Art Of Processing

Soil: The Foundation of Life

“I feel really happy that those who drink my coffee are drinking a cup of life”

Byron Corrales

Understanding the challenges of climate change, Byron has implemented robust adaptation strategies:

• Diverse tree species for enhanced shade coverage
• Strengthened soil biology
• Natural mineral enrichment
• Water conservation systems

"I want to transmit our family's art, our work of many years, discovering the flavors we've learned to bring forth from our mountains, expressed in this cup by way of respect for our environment," Byron shares. This respect for environment and commitment to regenerative practices creates coffee that is, in Byron's words, "the expression of life and the life energy of all the living beings who live in our community."

The Corrales Family from one of our origin trips.

Your morning coffee can be more than just a boost—it can drive positive change. With our Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification and our Bee Bold Alliance initiative, we're turning your daily coffee ritual into a force for good. Here's how we're making waves in the world of sustainable agriculture while serving up exceptional coffee.

Butterfly on coffee leaf, Soppexxcca Coop, Nicaragua

Our coffee farming goes beyond conventional methods. We nurture complete ecosystems where coffee plants thrive alongside native flora and fauna. A single coffee tree can support over 100 insect species, enhancing biodiversity on our farms.

coffee beans ripening in the understory of the forest canopy

Our commitment to biodiversity is reflected in two key initiatives:

AT ORIGIN

 Smithsonian Bird Friendly ® Certification: This certification is literally the environmental gold standard in the sustainable coffee industry. As holders of the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification since 2015, we adhere to the most comprehensive, science-based standards in the coffee industry. This certification requires:

• Multiple layers of native tree canopy providing crucial wildlife habitat
• USDA Organic certification as a foundation, ensuring chemical-free farming
• Regular third-party inspections verifying our environmental impact
• Documented support of migratory birds and local biodiversity

Did you know? A single coffee tree on a certified farm can support over 100 distinct insect species!

AT HOME

 The Bee Bold Alliance: This is our initiative to restore biodiversity and support local food security through pollinator protection. The vision is to create a regenerative ecology network in our community for comprehensive pollinator protection. Here are the key principles guiding our path forward:

• Protecting the Soil: We're working toward eliminating harmful pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides from our farming practices. This transition aims to create healthier environments for pollinators while maintaining productive coffee cultivation.
• Watershed Stewardship: Our growing commitment includes developing better water conservation practices, reducing fertilizer usage, and implementing responsible waste management systems.
• Fostering Pollinator Forage: We're exploring ways to integrate more flowering plants throughout our local farms, aiming to provide year-round nutrition that supports healthy pollinator populations.
• Honoring Indigenous Wisdom: We're beginning to build relationships with Native/First Nation peoples in our growing regions, seeking to learn from their traditional knowledge and collaborate on sustainable solutions for the future.

We're reaching out to neighboring farms and communities, inviting them to join us in protecting pollinators. This initiative is beginning to form, and we believe that together, we can create meaningful change.

We believe in the power of collective action. Here are ways you can participate in this journey:

1. Choose coffee that aligns with your environmental values

2. Cultivate native wildflowers in your garden or community spaces

3. Consider natural pest management practices

4. Create undisturbed areas in your garden to provide natural habitats

5. Learn about pollinator-friendly plants suitable for your local ecosystem

We're at an exciting point in our environmental journey, where your choice of coffee can help shape future agricultural practices. Our Bird Friendly® certified coffee demonstrates our established commitment to environmental stewardship, while our developing Bee Bold Coffee initiative shows where we're heading. By choosing these products, you're not just selecting quality coffee—you're supporting the evolution of sustainable and pollinator-friendly agriculture.

Join us on this journey toward biodiversity conservation through sustainable agriculture. Your support through choosing our Bird Friendly® certified coffee and Bee Bold Coffee helps create positive environmental change, one cup at a time.

Listen to the Farmers of Namanyonyi

Thanksgiving Coffee recently participated in a study called “The Farmers Thriving Index” conducted by 60 decibels who tracks social impact measurements on the ground directly from the farmers themselves. The primary goal was to confirm the findings we had discovered and to validate our shift in focus to “Health and Happiness” as the best way to support our coffee farmers at the Namanyonyi cooperative in Uganda.

85% of the Farmers Report Improved Health

The findings of this report have exceeded our initial report on our Clean Water Project by showing that 85% of the Farmers interviewed report improved household health because of the water filters, and 78% report a reduction in healthcare costs.

Members of the Namanyonyi Community of Shalom Interfaith Cooperative during a clean water training in Uganda

A total Shift in the Way We Support Farmers

This is a huge moment for us as it confirms what our Co-founder Paul Katzeff has be developing over the past several years. The concept is that when the health of the family is increased, the wealth of the household simultaneously increases as well. This study proved that 78% of the Namanyonyi coffee farmers income has been freed from health care costs. That is a huge change, and a big influx of money that can be invested into the wellbeing of the family, rather than going to doctors and medicines.

This is a total shift from the way our company looked at supporting farmers in the past. We thought that if we paid more for the beans it would translate into a better lifestyle for the farmers. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and after 30 years we can now prove this new concept. 

Results from Farmers Thriving Index , pg 14

Potential for Entire Industry Shift

Learn More

The Namanyonyi co-op study was also included in a larger index with a focus on farmers nationwide in Uganda, as well as Rwanda. To learn more about the national findings you can read it here in the Daily Coffee News.

2024 Coffee Farmer Thriving Index

It is our hope that the coffee industry will learn to shift towards the common good of all farmers with health and happiness for all.

Enjoy the Delicious Peace coffees grown by the Namanyonyi Co-op

Though relatively small in membership, SOPPEXCCA has emerged as Jinotega’s leading cooperative. The cooperative represents 654 families and is recognized around the world as a leader in the movement to empower small-scale farmers, especially women and youth. SOPPEXCCA has built primary schools in its member communities, alongside pharmacies, cooperative grocery stores, and technical assistance centers. Extensive micro-credit programs offer members access to financing at a discount of 75% compared to locally available commercial finance. Long-term work to develop sustainable coffee production has resulted in a cooperatively-owned organic fertilizer production facility, innovative climate change adaptation efforts, and of course, ongoing coffee quality improvement programs.

Thanksgiving Coffee Company is happy to announce the launch of our newest Impact Report, which combines both 2022 and 2023.

Over the past several years our company has evolved into a regenerative business model. This is where we grow our ability to inspire possibility and awaken potential in both our employees, the coffee industry and our planet.  

Our company is built on a foundation of caring, looking beyond immediate gratification and instead growing deeper connections with our farmers, our coffee products and the way in which we do our business.

In this report we have outlined several of our initiatives for you to dive deeper into what we care about and why we do what we do. We hope you gain more insight and find some inspiration from our latest impact report.

“CasparFest”

The annual fundraiser for The Caspar Community Center happened on Sunday, July 21st...and Thanksgiving Coffee Company was there!

Jennifer and Joe serving Thanksgiving Coffee

CasparFest 2024

The annual major fundraiser for The Caspar Community Center “CasparFest” happened on Sunday the 21st... and Thanksgiving Coffee Company was there! Hundreds of attendees including the local “Casparados” were in attendance with many other friends from around the area and tourists as well.

The town of Caspar, a former lumber mill and cattle ranch, is a small community, halfway between Fort Bragg and the Village of Mendocino, surrounded on three sides by CA State Parks (Jughandle, Jackson State Demonstration Forest and Russian Gulch) and the fourth side is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Officially, Caspar is an unincorporated part of Mendocino County with a population of about 500 as per the 2020 census. I'm almost positive that every single one of them was there - either helping to make food, serve guests, or helping in other ways to make the magic happen at this largest single fundraiser for their Community Center annually.

Jennifer Brown and Joe Seta at the Thanksgiving Coffee Company booth

Caspar Community Center in full festivities

The Casper Community Center is really the town hub offering an array of classes and a location for events, including concerts, community breakfasts, meetings, and much more.

There was an abundance of vendors. food and music all day from bluegrass, Americana, salsa, folk, Jazz, and other ethnic music with many types of dance including youth from Caspar Ballet and Grupo Folklorico, and general boogieing for 8 hours. Music provided by Tropiqueño, Gwyneth Moreland and Angie Heimann, The Old Growth Jazz Club, and Whiskey Wristwatch.

Tropiqueño inciting the dancers to groove!

The largest annual fundraiser for The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens happened on Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th... and Thanksgiving Coffee Company was there!

Art in The Gardens 2024

The 31st year of Art in the Gardens was a special weekend which brought together a diverse audience, including art enthusiasts, music lovers, local community members, and dedicated volunteers. Visitors were able to see the stunning dahlias in full bloom, enjoy local beer, wine, food, coffee, live music, ariel and dance performances, and support various artisans who generously donate a portion of their sales to the Gardens.

With more than 2,200 visitors and generous donors contributing a total of $74,367.96 (after expenses!) it's clear that Art in the Gardens continues to be a resounding success. This level of support is a testament to the event's popularity and the strong backing of the community. The funds raised will undoubtedly have a significant positive impact on the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, allowing for continued growth and improvements.

Jennifer Brown at the Thanksgiving Coffee Company booth

Art in The Gardens in full swing

"47 Acres to the Sea", the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a local treasure!

Circus Mecca took flight!

Redwood Coast Recreation Center Benefit

On Saturday, August 17, a benefit was held in the Sea Ranch Del Mar Center to help raise funds for the Redwood Coast Recreation Center which was lost in a tragic arson fire. This event was joyous and delicious with an array of sweet treats and decadent cheeses, to pair with wine and, of course, great coffee from us.

Cheeses From Penny Royal Farm, Valley Ford Creamery, Marin French Cheese, and Bohemian Creamery

Wines from Handley Cellars, Woodenhead, Wild Hog, Fort Ross, and Pacific Sar Wineries

Desserts from Franny's Cup and Saucer

Goodies from Trinks Cafe and 2 Fish Bakeries

• A single origin light roast from Guatemala
• A medium roast blend with our award-winning Mocha Java
• Our SongBird Colombian dark roast, plus
• A delicious decaffeinated offering – Royal Decaf.

The 53rd annual World's Largest Salmon BBQ happened again this year on July 6th, and once again - Thanksgiving Coffee Company was there.

Carlos Hernandez & Sienna Reno enjoying Thanksgiving Coffee

The 53rd annual World's Largest Salmon BBQ

This annual event raises funds for restoring salmon habitat with the goal of returning the salmon population to a sustainable balance. Currently, the salmon fishing season is closed in California for the second year in a row to allow the salmon population to rebuild. It has been deeply affected over the last several years due to drought, spawning ground habitat damage, and other factors. For the second year in a row the half-ton of salmon that was donated for the BBQ originated from Alaska. Dozens of local and regional sponsors come together to make this event happen!

In addition to serving hot specialty coffee as usual, we raised our game by serving multiple gallons of 4 varieties - Ethiopian Natural light roast, Paul's Blend medium roast, Noyo Harbor French very dark roast, and Royal Decaf. Additionally, nearly 3000 attendees were introduced to our new Nitro cold coffee with its creamy mouthfeel and cooling chill!

Jennifer Brown at the Thanksgiving Coffee Company Booth

It was a very hot day, by Fort Bragg standards (about 75°) so many of the attendees requested to enjoy their coffee over ice, and we were happy to oblige. Jennifer and I made everyone feel welcome and well caffeinated. Two other local B Corporations were represented as well; North Coast Brewing Company and Bonterra organic wines.

The very happy Bonterra Organic Estates wines booth, another B Corp in Mendocino County.

The North Coast Brewing Company  booth

One of the acts "West of Nowhere" featuring from left to right; Dan Mello, Phil Dunn, Sean Van Buskirk

It's our annual privilege to build a pop-up coffee shop in the middle of a field on the shores of Noyo Harbor, but this year I took it to an even higher level - I emceed the event, thanking the dozens of sponsors and introducing the 10 acts that performed that day.

Joe Seta as Emcee of the Salmon BBQ this year. Photo by Eric Fngal

Thanksgiving Coffee Company had the privilege to co-sponsor the “Native Cinema” event along with Xa Kako Dile: in the main tent at the 2024 Mendocino Film Festival. The sold out audience was alerted at the introduction that the next two and a half hours could make them feel “uncomfortable” and the truths that were shared at this event were even more than that word conveyed.

Corine Pearce - Pomo Basket Weaver

There were beautiful short films on the artistry and teaching of the world-renowned Pomo basketry with Corine Pearce, and the resurgence and validation of the Yurok tribe’s forest management practices using fire which has been practiced in this region for millennia. These controlled burns have now been adopted by Cal Fire and other agencies as extremely effective in controlling dangerous undergrowth and revitalizing the land.

Margo Robbins of the Yurok Tribe bringing prescribed fire back in the film - Fire Tender

This led up to the most significant part of the event – a documentary on MMIW – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. It was horrifying to learn that we live in parts of the top 5 most dangerous parts of California for Indigenous Women, and also for other Indigenous people (MMIP) as well. Here is a snapshot of an all-too-horrific story: Missing of Murdered Indigenous People Fact Sheet

"The next 2 1/2 hours could make you uncomfortable"

Image from the documentary "We Ride For Her"

raising awareness of the heartbreaking realities

The film WE RIDE FOR HER (directed by Prairie Rose Seminole & Katrina Lillian Sorrentino) follows the birth of a group of motorcycle riding indigenous women who created this group to raise awareness of the heartbreaking realities and to aid in the search for their missing sisters and brothers. This documentary should be required education for all Californians.

Resources:

Local Indigenous Women Run Farm: Xa Kako Dile:

Murdered Missing Indigenous Women: MMIW

History of Thanksgiving Coffee Company and Native Cinema:

Night of Native Cinema

Native Cinema 2023 - Groundworks

The Mendocino Film Festival kicked off with a fabulous gala party at the Mendocino Arts Center with live music and great conviviality that featured a collaboration between community restaurants, wineries, and Thanksgiving Coffee Company .

Fabulous Gala at Mendocino Art Center

We chose to pair with Chef Joe Cucina Verona restaurant in Fort Bragg to serve Affogatos - a shot of espresso over vanilla bean Gelato… A decadent little pick me up that was enjoyed by all. The word Affogato is literally defined as “drowned” in Italian.

Left to right - Joe Seta, Chef Joe from Cucina Verona, Co-founder Paul Katzeff and festival sponsor, Diana Coryat.

Inside the Gala Tent on the Mendocino Art Center Patio

With both ends of the caffeination spectrum acknowledged, it's no surprise that we gave away over 300 Affogatos!

Left - Joe Seta serving up an affagato for the Gala

We had brought this tasty concoction to the festival last year with great success and also received the feedback that people were concerned about being kept awake after the first film was done so we had both our Northern Italian Espresso and Northern Italian Espresso Decaf versions. With both ends of the caffeine spectrum acknowledged, it was no surprise that we gave away over 300 Affogatos and started the 2024 Mendocino Film Festival on a lively note.