While taste is first and foremost, Portola has proven that it is possible to offer the very best tasting coffee imaginable - and at the same time champion environmental and social responsibility. That is why we only offer certified sustainable coffees that promote farming best practices and guarantee a fair-price to farmers for the fruits of their very hard labor.   This has been a part of our business model from the very beginning and it has never been merely a marketing ploy.  In a perfect world the very best coffee could be produced with zero impact on the environment and at the same time sufficiently provide for all farmers so that they are able to live above poverty with access to such things as health care and education...forever.  Unfortunately, coffee production can be both destructive to the environment and the source of harsh working conditions with daily wages below the cost of a Cafe Mocha. We at Portola want future generations in America to enjoy the same exceptional coffee we are fortunate to drink today.  We are also not blind to the fact that this wonderful agricultural product does not come without consequence.  Our love for coffee and everything wonderful it brings must not ignore the process from farm to cup and those who dedicate themselves to making it all possible.  It is our mission to help increase awareness worldwide and to encourage everyone to contribute to the sustainable coffee movement - promoting environmental and social stewardship.  

...a few cents more a cup can make a world of difference. 

Organic.  Every coffee from Portola is organic and has never touched a single chemical pesticide or fertilizer…ever! This is important for many reasons, but primarily for taste, health and protection of the environment.  We want to be able to offer the same quality coffee decades from now that we offer today. The only way this can happen is if we do our small part to promote methodologies that do not negatively alter, impact, or otherwise destroy our most precious resources on this beautiful plant we inhabit. 

Not only is every coffee we offer organic, they share in one or more additional certifications such as Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, Bird-Friendly, or Water-Processed (Decaffeination process that is chemical -free). 

Fair Trade Certified through TransFair USA: Despite strenuous labor and poverty living conditions, dedicated farmers around the globe demonstrate their passion for great coffee year after year and although it would be easy to take all of the credit here at Portola, we would rather reward those whose would otherwise go unnoticed. By serving Fair Trade Certified coffees, we are empowering farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Rainforest Alliance Certified™. Coffee farming in rainforest regions has led to destruction of many acres of forestry, a detriment to our delicate eco-system. The enticement to replace rainforests with revenue generating coffee farms is too great. Rainforest Alliance certification is a comprehensive process that promotes and guarantees improvements in agriculture and forestry by ensuring that goods and services were produced in compliance with strict guidelines protecting the environment, wildlife, workers and local communities. 

·         Better tasting coffee because shade-coffee beans ripen more slowly, resulting in a richer flavor.

·         Fair and stable prices for producers.

·         Healthy environments for workers and downstream communities.

·         More traditional varieties and new varieties that are resistant to pests.

·         Pollution control at mills, both wet and dry.

·         Access to credit for producers employing sustainable technologies.

·         Adequate wages, housing, and health care for workers.

·         Access to markets for all producers, irrespective of farm size.