SANTA CLARA, CA - As the Coffee Crisis ravages many coffee producing countries it is a welcome change to hear some good news coming out of these coffee origin nations. Barefoot Coffee Roasters, as part of their Cause and Effect program, has developed a unique partnership to bring not only financial relief but medical relief as well to the hard working coffee farmers of Finca Vista Hermosa in Guatemala. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is donating money to fund the building of a medical clinic for the farm workers and their families. In addition to the cash donation Barefoot Coffee Roasters is also making the trek down to Guatemala with a group of Baristas, roasters and customers to actually help build the clinic early in 2005.

Finca Vista Hermosa was just awarded the Excellent Cup 2004 Award for Guatemalan coffees. The Cup of Excellence Award is a prestigious award given to those select world class coffees that a world-wide panel of expert coffee tasters have rated as being the absolute best in the entire country. Out of over 65,000 different coffees submitted and judged the Finca Vista Hermosa coffee was selected as a Cup of Excellence Award winner this July. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is the only coffee roaster in California to have this truly remarkable coffee. Barefoot offers this world class coffee both in their retail café as well as to their café and restaurant wholesale customers.

For every pound of Vista Hermosa Guatemala coffee sold at retail Barefoot Coffee Roasters will donate $1 to the medical clinic fund. In addition to retail sales, Barefoot Coffee Roasters will donate $0.50 for each pound of this Cause and Effect coffee that wholesale customers purchase. Vista Hermosa Guatemala are available for purchase in whole bean by the pound as well as served on the bar as filter coffee at Barefoot Coffee Roasters located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara. And at many of their café customers throughout the Bay Area.

"For years at the plantation we have been fortunate enough to host visiting groups of doctors to be able to offer medical attention not only to workers, but to anyone who shows up with a need." Said Edwin Maritinez, Finca Vista Hermosa coffee plantation."Until now we have swept a clean spot in the dirt and hung plastic tarp over ropes for walls to set up clinic. We need a more adequate structure and we are thrilled as a small family business to see customers volunteer to get their hands dirty getting involved with such a project at coffee origin. We are excited that Andy has taken the initiative with Barefoot Coffee Roasters to commit to paving the way for this project. This will facilitate meeting vital health needs for hundreds each year, giving them a healthier future. This is something you cannot put a price on."

Vista Hermosa Guatemala is organically grown under native shade trees and tended by well trained farmers who take great pride in their finished product. Barefoot Coffee Roasters pays far more than Fair Trade prices for this remarkable coffee ensuring that farmers are paid fair wages and that the farm can invest back into their production.

While Barefoot Coffee Roasters provides sustainable support to the global community by purchasing coffee directly from farmers and buying Fair Trade coffees, the creation of these special blends highlights the company's commitment to bring that support to the local community.

"There is only one true way to defeat the growing Coffee Crisis." says Andy Newbom, CEO of Barefoot Coffee Roasters. "Purchasing world-class, specialty quality coffees directly from the farmers without the myriad middlemen ensures that all of the profits stays in their hands where it belongs. And for a world renowned grower like Finca Vista Hermosa with their ecologically sound growing practices, progressive and caring worker treatment and amazingly tasty coffee the future is starting to look bright."

Restaurants, cafés or other businesses interested in providing sustainable support for coffee farmers, the homeless, the arts or any of the other Cause and Effect charitable support programs can contact Barefoot Coffee Roasters at 408-687-3692 or info@barefootcoffeeroasters.com for more information.

Finca Vista Hermosa is an award winning coffee plantation of three generations of dedicated coffee farmers in northwest Guatemala in the stunning highlands of the Huehuetenango region. The elevation is 4700-5600 feet and all of the land above the 5700 feet mark is native forest. This natural forest is completely wild nature preserve and home to the natural fresh water springs that feed the farm. The farm is covered in native shade trees that provide shelter and food for the birds, the perfect blend of sun and shade for the coffee trees and protects against soil erosion. Natural fertilizers rather than chemicals are tilled back into the soil to provide lush and healthy coffee trees that resist pests and disease. However it is our people that are our greatest asset. We provide them with medical and dental attention as well as regular training and supplies for them to continuously improve their hygiene which is the largest contributor to many health challenges they encounter. Finca Vista Hermosa supports schooling and continued education of the children of farm workers and does not employ underage laborers. There is a very strong family dynamic that certainly cannot be underestimated as younger kids play around their parents as they work and are able to spend the day with the family. This way every meal, every day is shared as a family.

Barefoot Coffee Roasters is a full-service coffee and espresso bar and artisan organic wholesale coffee roaster located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara (at the corner of Lawrence Expressway near Bed, Bath and Beyond). Barefoot Coffee Roasters was just voted the Best Coffee House in Silicon Valley by Metro Magazine. All coffees are roasted fresh in the café by skilled artisan roasters using old-world, small batch roasting techniques to coax the best flavor out of every coffee. Barefoot Coffee Roasters actively practices and promotes sustainability in both products and practices. Over 85% of Barefoot Coffee Roasters coffees are organic, shade grown and fair traded, resulting in not only better coffee but better living and working conditions for the farmers and their children for successive generations. The café features computers for Internet access, as well as Wi-Fi Internet access, and serves high-quality coffees, teas, pastries, desserts and chocolates. Barefoot Coffees are served and enjoyed in many fine cafés and restaurants throughout the nation. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is proud to be a participating member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Roasters Guild and a founding member of the Barista Guild of America. For more information, please call (408) 248-4500, visit www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com or simply drop by.

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