Which organization partnered with Starbucks to develop its C.A.F.E. Practices coffee standard?

Conservation International partnered with Starbucks to develop C.A.F.E. Practices, the company’s coffee-sourcing standard. The program evaluates coffee farms and supply chains using criteria covering environmental, social, and economic performance.

C.A.F.E. stands for Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices. Starbucks introduced the program in 2004, working with Conservation International to create a sourcing framework that went beyond simply purchasing coffee by the lowest price.

The standard is often confused with independent certification systems such as Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance. C.A.F.E. Practices is Starbucks’ own verification program, although outside organizations and auditors participate in evaluating compliance. Its criteria include coffee quality, worker conditions, environmental protection, and economic transparency.