Meet Ed, our Coffee Roaster

I'm Ed Humpal, the coffee roaster for Kimberton Whole Foods. It is my intention to invite you to an adventure around the world with me, at least in hearts and minds gathered around a coffee pot.

Some people around here remember me from my years running a coffee and espresso concession for festivals and special events. When I started roasting coffee as well, Kimberton Whole Foods offered me my first chance at retail sales. Now I roast at their warehouse in Leola and get to write this in the shadow of a 3000 pound pile of green coffee beans. A coffee lover's dream, if there ever was one.

Sustainability and Global Equity

The growth of coffee from a wildcrafted Ethiopian bean to an international sensation that countries intrigued over and tall ships vied for is a fascinating story, but it's a tragic one too. We inherit a history of exploitation and abuse from the Age of Empire. The Fair Trade movement in our times is an important correction. I am a committed Fair Trade roaster, but a certification and an improved margin for the farmer is not, of itself, a final solution to the global imbalance of wealth and poverty. This is an exciting time right now for new solutions and approaches. Many cooperatives and plantations are doing the right thing for the environment and their workers, but are not always willing to pay for certification, or restructure in ways that are required. Some have been finding new ways to the market, such as selling direct to roasters, which creates a lower cost to the buyer, but puts more money in the hands of the farmers. We pledge to you that our choices in purchasing are based on supporting the right farms for the right reasons.

Buy Globally, Roast Locally

Coffee roasted by the large, nationally distributed companies, shipped and warehoused all over our country, has an enormous carbon footprint, and puts a small premium on freshness. Artisan coffee roasting, which is based on small, hand roasted batches, brings the production and distribution of coffee to the “Fresh and Local” market. Coffee that has been roasted only a week or two before consumption has rich flavors and complex aromas that are lost when coffee is roasted for extended shelf life. We'll be bringing you coffees from Sumatra, Bali, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia, Nicaragua and more. Expect coffees on our shelf to disappear after their natural harvest has been distributed – though we will make sure we have them again when they become available.

Learn More

Please visit my blog, More Than Just a Pretty Cup, to keep up with what we're doing, to learn about different varieties of coffee, and to read about the projects and initiatives you are supporting by your purchases.