Forest Bean is a coffee brand that sells eco-friendly and sustainable coffee beans. The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to micro-lot farms where Forest Bean is produced. Their farms support the livelihood of Indigenous farmers and craftspeople while protecting animals and the environment. We spoke to Angela Noguer, Business Development and Operations Lead of Forest Bean, to learn more about them.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Our business is called Forest Bean. We sell shade-grown, sustainable coffee beans from our founders’ six-generation family farm in Western Ghats, India. The family farm practices agroforestry, which purposefully integrates the growing of trees with crops. This practice enhances biodiversity, soil health and crop production on the coffee farm. Forest Bean currently offers three types of coffee roasts including a light-medium roast called Matanga, a medium roast called Nari and the newest roast Mayura which is a lovely espresso roast.
What made you want to do this work?
Driven by sustainability, I take pride in learning new sustainable and eco-friendly practices to implement into my career in the future. My passion for greener products and long-time love for coffee has directed me to Forest Bean, where I hope to advance my knowledge in sustainable operations management.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
Creating Forest Bean was a strive to change the coffee industry into a more sustainable, environmentally friendly practice to help provide premium coffee for future generations while preserving our environment.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Coffee lovers with a passion for premium, sustainable, local products.
How does your business make money? How does it work? Where in Vancouver can we find your profession?
Forest Bean currently participates in the local Artisan Farmers’ Markets including Burnaby, Ambleside, and Lonsdale. We also currently offer our products on our website shop. Throughout Vancouver, we are selling our coffee in a few local retailers including City Avenue, New West and Harvest Community Foods in Vancouver.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
What is shade-grown coffee and why is it different from other coffee brands? Our coffee is grown on a world heritage site by our family-run coffee. There is no middleman for Forest Bean as we grow, roast, and sell our coffee beans ourselves. The coffee beans are shade-grown meaning that we don’t cut down any trees this allows us to preserve wildlife and support biodiversity.
What is the best part about what you do?
The best part is educating our customers on what sustainable means to us!
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
“Coffee’s Coffee” we hear all the time but we love to educate our customers on our bean growing process and roasting process, not all coffee is the same!
What are your social media channels?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another Vancouver business that you love?
Harvest Union in Chinatown is an amazing little grocery store with an excellent selection of local products.
