Educational Media Reviews Online

According to the International Coffee Organization, the global coffee consumption in 2014 was 149.3 million bags, and the estimated production for 2014/15 is around 141.9 million bags. Obviously, there are a lot of coffee lovers who enjoy drinking the aromatic beverage from roasted beans every day. But very often, they do not realize that the full process of production of a single cup of coffee is very labor intensive and complex. “Every cup of coffee connects us in a very real way to the people who are most responsible for it: the growers themselves” - state Aaron and Chelsea Bay Dennis in their documentary film Connected by Coffee. To justify this statement, the filmmakers explore the lives, working conditions, and economic resources of small-scale family farmers, who are responsible for the production of around 70% of the world’s coffee, yet oftentimes live in horrific poverty.

The interviews with farmers take place in Acteal and Chiapas, Mexico; Panajachel, Guatemala; and Esteli, Nicaragua, and capture their stories from the past and to the present. Throughout these stories, the filmmakers discuss the advantages and disadvantages of small-scale farming, and explore the problems the farmers face every single day: environmental pollution, coffee plant diseases, lack of access to health services, education, clean water, and good food. In order to survive, many farmers organize small cooperatives and participate in the Fair Trade movement, which attempts to improve the relationships between farmers and buyers, and to provide small-scale farmers with more secure incomes. Although, the Fair Trade movement offers many benefits to the farmers, very often it is not enough. More social and economic programs need to be developed in order to help farmers to enhance the conditions of their lands, households, and communities.

The documentary also provides a short examination of the many other essential matters related to the coffee industry: history and culture, human rights, social justice, global politics, international trades, and the future of the Fair Trade. It also raises many significant questions that don’t yet have answers.

Connected by Coffee is a very informative and factual documentary that increases awareness of the many social and economic issues in the coffee industry, and stimulates a necessary conversation related to the trading relationships between coffee farmers and global commodity markets. The film educates its audience about the importance of the small-scale farmers that produce high quality organic coffee and offers some ideas on how to support them.