Café solo, sola
Café solo: Just coffee, black coffee, coffee only
Sola: Feminine translation of being alone, by oneself or without company
I like my coffee strong and black, without artificial or natural sweetener, without whips or toppings, without regret and without moderation.
Like gold, coffee is most valuable in its purest form. Percolated, unadulterated by frivolity, or contaminated by fillers. (don’t @ me)
My experience with each cup of coffee is as physical as it is symbolic. It symbolizes my entrance into adulthood, decision making, sophistication. Coffee an art that is as traditional as it is modern.Coffee has become one of my weaknesses while also being a source of strength, energy and vigor; increasing my alertness and creativity.
But how can I find joy in something that causes others hardship?
“Far from the espresso bars of Manhattan, Montreal and Madrid, children as young as seven can be seen lugging sacks of coffee along the Ruta del Café in southernmost Mexico. Some have been picking for hours under the hot Chiapas sun, the grasp of their tiny fingers the coffee’s first step in a long journey toward a waiting barista. International agreements and the laws of nations would seem to preclude such labors by children.” Marcus Stern, The Human Cost Within a Cup of Coffee
Ethically sourced coffee is an international conversation taking place between various countries, governments and companies. According to 2013 survey completed by the National Coffee Association 83% of American adults drink coffee.
Coffee, clothes and jewelry are things that are fun to enjoy, but are often unethically sourced, which means they are produced through exploitation. The workers needed to produce these items are often paid less than a livable wage, work long hours, work in unsafe conditions and may even be children.
The photo for this post was taken during breakfast at a coffee plantation in Nicaragua. I learned about how the plantation operates shortly after breakfast, and I don’t believe the coffee I partook in was ethically sourced. The workers live in worn buildings, work long hours and make little money, while the plantation owners live in a very large and comfortable house make lots of money from visitors and tourists.
I do not have all the answers to buying ethically sourced coffee or clothing, but I hope to become a more informed shopper and a more compassionate person in the process. If you have any tips for being a more conscious consumer, let me know in the comments or by email.
Kalen Nicole 
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