Wake up and save the jaguars? It seems like a tall order for first thing in the morning, but the new partnership between Press Coffee and the Phoenix Zoo allows locals to do just that when they purchase Pura Vida roast.
Steve Kraus, owner and founder of Press Coffee, explains how this unique partnership works.
“We at Press Coffee feel very lucky to have a partnership with the Phoenix Zoo’s conservation arm. The farm in Costa Rica–Finca Las Alturas–exists in large part to help protect and create a habitat for native jaguars to live in,” he says. “At Press, our part of the partnership is a commitment to buy and roast the coffee growing on that farm. We worked with our coffee importer, Royal Coffee, to bring it to Phoenix where we present it in the best way possible through the roasting process. Then, we donate $5 for every retail bag sold back to the conservation effort.”
Sourced from the Fincas Las Alturas in Costa Rica with the help of the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (ACNC), which operates the Phoenix Zoo, the 12-ounce bags of whole beans are available at all Press Coffee locations and on the website, with a portion of the proceeds supporting jaguar research led by the ACNC and ProCAT, an international nongovernmental organization focused on wildlife and habitat conservation.
“The CEO of the Phoenix Zoo, Bert Castro, happened to come to a coffee tasting event we were running. He loved the passion and science behind the coffee, and the event was a memorable one for him. When an opportunity to roast coffee from Costa Rica came about, he approached us,” Kraus says. “In situations like this, the quality of the coffee is an unknown, and often not at the same level that we source and roast at Press. In this instance, the quality was spectacular. It made the opportunity even more unique. We couldn’t be more excited to roast this coffee at Press Coffee for a great cause.”
“We are so pleased to be partnering with Press Coffee on the Jaguar Friendly Coffee project and sharing with people in the Valley the great work that the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and its partners are doing in Costa Rica to conserve jaguars and their habitat,” adds Ruth Allard, EVP of conservation and education at the zoo.
Kraus says that the flavor of the Jaguar Friendly coffee makes him think of a candy bar. “It is full of chocolate, nougat, and caramel notes with a big body and a medium acidity.”
Press Coffee’s Chandler location is at 2577 W. Queen Creek Road. The shop hosts a Coffee 101 event the third Saturday of every month or by special appointment for groups of six or more. Learn more at PressCoffee.com.