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Rootline Coffee Company is addressing a common problem: finding ethically sourced, specialty- grade coffee. And last week, they celebrated with a ribbon cutting, sponsored by the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Most coffee companies pick up the coffee-making process after the beans have already reached the United States. This lack of accountability often results in the farmers being mistreated and underpaid. Child labor, poor working conditions and exploitation are just a few ways that corruption has entered the coffee industry.
Britt and Audrey Hancock saw corruption firsthand and knew they had to do something different. Their dream to improve the lives of impoverished people in developing countries through sustainable business led them to the coffee industry. They wanted to empower locals and impact the community, so they bought a coffee farm and named it Esperanza De Gloria, which means Hope of Glory.
“Some coffee companies are trying to solve corruption through direct trade, to cut out the middleman who takes advantage of the farmers,” Britt said, “But we go beyond direct trade by actually owning the farm. That way, we can pay our harvesters 48% above the national minimum wage, give them three meals a day, provide daycare for children, and a place to live.”
Rootline Coffee Company intentionally integrated into Dripping Springs for its strong community.
“This ribbon cutting is a celebration of supporting farmers and impoverished people while giving DSTX a place to connect,” Britt said. “We’re so excited to finally announce the opening of our new coffee shop, but we are even more ecstatic to raise an overall awareness that the coffee you purchase can make a difference in the lives of farmers.”
Rootline is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit rootlinecoffeeco.com or follow @rootlinecoffee on Instagram or Facebook.
