FAQ
Categories
Our Coffee
Where does your coffee come from?
Each of our coffee blends includes Gorongosa Green, grown by local farmers in the heart of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Specialty roasters have blended it with other ethically- and sustainably-sourced Arabica beans from around the world to craft our unique and flavorful roasts.
Is your coffee organic?
All the inputs our farmers use to grow coffee are organic, aside from a single nutrient the coffee saplings need that is currently unavailable in an organic form in Mozambique. We are seeking an organic alternative and actively pursuing organic certification.
Is your coffee fair trade?
Even better, our coffee is direct trade! We and our sourcing partners work directly with farmers to ensure quality, sustainability, and better prices for our producers.
How do you compensate your farmers?
We work with 600 local farmers and pay a price per kilogram for their yield. That price is set based on the NYC index for coffee with a price floor to ensure farmers have a sustainable livelihood.
Who are your roasting partners?
Our specialty roasting partners are Ironside Roasting Co. (Boise, Idaho) and Colonna Coffee (Bath, UK).
When is my coffee roasted?
In the U.S., we roast every Monday and Friday.
Why doesn’t the decaf blend include Gorongosa Green?
We are working on having our green bean coffee decaffeinated. In the meantime, we are using a premium ethically- and sustainably-sourced decaffeinated bean from Colombia.
Where are your green coffee beans processed?
We process our green coffee beans right in Gorongosa National Park! This allows for more profit to funnel into human development and conservation programs, as well as provides greater employment opportunities and skill development for local communities.
What kind of grind do you use?
For the majority of our roasts, we use a regular grind that is perfect for drip coffee, pour over, and chemex brewing. The Gorongosa Lion's Blend has a finer grind that is ideal for a home espresso machine or Moka pot brewing.
Our Gorongosa
What is your relationship with Gorongosa National Park?
Our Gorongosa sells specialty coffee grown in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, and blended with other sustainably-sourced Arabica beans. 100% of our profits go to the Gorongosa Trust, which funds Gorongosa National Park’s human development and conservation activities. That means the profits from every bag of coffee funnel directly back into the Park to support people, wildlife, and the planet.
Are you a non-profit?
We are a private company that directly supports a non-profit organization (the Gorongosa Project). 100% of our profits go to our lone shareholder (the Gorongosa Trust) which funds the Gorongosa Project’s human development and conservation activities in Gorongosa National Park.
Where do your profits go?
100% of our profits go to our lone shareholder (the Gorongosa Trust) which funds the Gorongosa Project’s human development and conservation activities in Gorongosa National Park. The profits from each bag are earmarked for a particular impact area - girls’ education, wildlife conservation, and/or rainforest reforestation.
The Park’s Human Development and Conservation departments are responsible for distributing the profits where they are needed most. The Human Development Department, for example, works closely with the community and other stakeholders to determine whether girls’ education funds are best spent building new schools, funding boarding school scholarships, providing better classroom resources, or a combination of these (and more!).
Sustainability
Are your bags compostable?
We‘re in the process of transitioning from 100% recyclable to 100% commercial compostable packaging and appreciate your patience as we roll this out. Not sure which bag you have? Take a peek at the back - if it’s the compostable variety, you’ll see a call-out that lets you know!
For our new bags, we are proud to have chosen one of the only fully-certified commercial compostable bags (including zipper and valve) on the market. This bag is certified 100% commercial compostable by ABA Australasia and has undergone robust testing for biodegradability (ensuring it is fully biodegradable), chemical characterization (ensuring it will not leave heavy metal or otherwise toxic residue), and eco-toxicity (ensuring it leaves healthy soil with a thriving worm population).
Why not home compostable?
Given the different climates across the U.S., it’s challenging to find a one-size-fits-all solution for home composting (what breaks down quickly in warmer or more humid climates won’t perform the same in cooler or drier climates). We also want to keep your beans fresh! Choosing this route ensures that we’re minimizing landfill waste while also giving you the freshest coffee possible. We’re committed to doing better and as the technology evolves, we’ll endeavor to find solutions that provide the most sustainable packaging option and deliver the optimal product experience.
What about your K-Cups?
Our K-Cups are a Zero-Impact pod. Engineered for landfill reduction, this PLA (plant-based) pod, is derived from corn and dissolves in landfills within weeks.
Ordering & Shipping
When will my order ship?
You can expect your order to arrive within 3-6 business days.
Can I cancel my order?
Because we roast-to-order, there’s a small window for us to cancel - but we’ll do our best to help you out if you email us at info@ourgorongosa.com.
Do you accept returns?
Because coffee is perishable, we don’t accept returns. However, if your shipment is damaged or you have a concern about your order, we’ll be happy to help! Email us at info@ourgorongosa.com within 30 days of your order and we’ll send a replacement.
Where do you ship?
At this time, we ship to the U.S. (sorry, no Canada yet!) and internationally to more than 50 countries from www.ourgorongosa.co.uk. Please email at info@ourgorongosa.com for more info.
Do you provide free shipping?
Free shipping is available for U.S. orders of two or more 12 oz bags of coffee (or, for an order value greater than $40 USD).
Subscriptions
How often can I get coffee shipped with a subscription service?
We’ll deliver freshly roasted coffee to you every two weeks, four weeks, or six weeks.
Can I pay monthly?
Our subscriptions are set up for you to auto-pay with every shipment. To pay monthly, simply select four weeks as your shipment frequency! Note that if you are looking to gift a subscription, you will prepay for the duration of the subscription upfront.
Will my subscription automatically renew?
Your subscription will automatically renew every year. If you’d like to cancel your subscription, please email us at info@ourgorongosa.com (we’ll be sad to see you go!).
Can I change my order on a subscription?
You certainly can! Please email us at info@ourgorongosa.com and we’ll be happy to adjust your order.
Can I gift a subscription?
Yes, you can! You can gift a prepaid 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month coffee subscription here.