The 3 Best Fair-Trade Grocery Store Coffees

These days, there are three qualities that are becoming exceedingly difficult for the average Joe to find in a single bag of coffee- Great taste, Fair-trade, and Low price. It's quite easy to purchase from a brand that has one or two of these qualities, but the real challenge is in discovering a coffee that contains all three. Keep in mind that I am no coffee expert. I'm just a simple guy who wants to enjoy a tasty brew without having to cut into my kid's college fund.

There are times that flavor is barely considered as coffee has become a sort of bonding element for many relationships, business negotiations, and staff meetings. Whether you drink coffee for quick energy in the morning or sip it while you discuss your next promotion, the whole experience will be heightened if your brew has a distinctly delectable flavor. There is nothing worse than trying to stomach a bland cup of coffee in the morning as you begin your daily routine. Good coffee = Good morning = Good day.

You can tell a lot about how a company views their customers based on the way that they treat their employees. For this reason, I encourage you to only buy coffee that is labeled Fair-Trade. Without information about a brand's farming practices and production techniques, there is no way to know whether or not they are part of the overwhelming percentage of companies that exploit their workers and harvest their beans off the backs of slaves. There is a true satisfaction that comes with drinking a cup of coffee you know was farmed with integrity and was fairly traded.

Gourmet coffee can sometimes cost around $13 per bag! The truth is there are plenty of great tasting, fairly traded coffees out there for a very affordable price. Many coffee-lovers only buy from local shops, ignoring the fact that they can buy delicious affordable brands while shopping for the rest of their groceries.

Here are three different companies that sell great tasting fair trade coffee at a low price. You can find them at Wal-Mart, Country Mart, Target, or other local grocers.

This was the first brand of whole bean coffee that I tried and I still love it to this day. Among the variety of flavors available, I highly recommend the espresso bold roast. Archer Farms is sold exclusively at Target and is a great buy at around $8 (price may vary by location). You can learn more about this brand and their production methods at Target's website or at Coffee and Conservation.

San Francisco Bay's Hawaiian blend is my all time favorite coffee. I first picked it up at Country Mart as a last resort after a long day at work. The next morning, I was enjoying one of the best cups of coffee I'd ever brewed for myself. I was also very pleased when I noticed the company slogan- "Grown Responsibly, Fairly Traded". San Francisco Bay rings up at around $10 a bag and it's worth every penny. Discover more about the company here.

After enjoying my first cup of Westrock's Muraho espresso, I sat down to explore the company's website. I was blown away. This brand goes above and beyond a fair-trade label and gives you clear and detailed information about how they harvest their coffee and treat their workers. At only $7 for 12 ounces, you can't go wrong with Westrock. You can pick up one of their several different roasts at Wal-Mart or even order straight from the company's website. Learn more about Westrock here.

May the quest for affordable great tasting fair trade coffees continue!