Reflecting on the Journey: 12 Years as a B Corp

This year, we were honored to be named a finalist for the Specialty Coffee Association’s Sustainability Awards – recognized alongside a group of companies working to create meaningful, measurable impact across the global coffee community.

(View the full list of finalists)

Moments like this have a way of slowing us down in the best way. They invite reflection. Not just on a single year, but on the path that brought us here.

We’re grateful to be included among peers doing this work and just as grateful for the many producers, partners, and coffee drinkers who may never be on a list, but who make this kind of progress possible every day.

That recognition also had us reflecting more deeply on 12 years as a Certified B Corporation and a Florida Benefit Corporation, and nearly two decades of Amavida.

A Framework That Helped Shape the Way Forward

When we first became a B Corp, it felt like an affirmation of the things we already cared deeply about – our people, our community, and the environment. But over time, it became much more than that.

It gave us a framework. A way to measure what we were doing and, just as importantly, what we weren’t yet doing.

It helped us begin to understand our carbon footprint more clearly, take responsibility for materials like plastic, and rethink what it means to support our team in ways that go beyond what’s required. These weren’t overnight changes, and they’re still evolving, but they’ve become part of how we operate day to day.

More than anything, B Corp has served as a kind of compass helping guide decisions, shape priorities, and keep us accountable as we grow.

(Learn more about our B Corp certification)

And in many ways, it’s opened the door to questions we hadn’t even thought to ask when we first started.

A Collective Effort, Across the Coffee Chain

Being recognized by the Specialty Coffee Association this year was meaningful not because of the recognition alone, but because of what it represents.

Coffee is inherently connected – across continents, communities, and countless hands. From producers at origin, to partners and teams, to the guests who choose what they drink each day, every part of that chain plays a role.

It’s incredible to think that something as simple as a cup of coffee can connect all of us to something much bigger. Choices that support not just quality, but a more sustainable and equitable future.

We celebrate Coffee Circle, this year’s award recipient, and all of the companies – recognized or not – who are doing this work alongside us. Progress in coffee doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens collectively.

Still Learning, Still Evolving

If there’s one thing the past 12 years have taught us, it’s that this work is never finished.

There’s always more to understand. More responsibility to take. More ways to improve.

Right now, one of the areas we’re beginning to explore is what we’re calling our “water story.” It’s something that’s still very new for us, and honestly, something we’re still learning how to understand. Like much of this work, it isn’t always straightforward, but it’s part of where we know we need to grow.

And that’s been true across the board. Each step forward has come with new questions, new challenges, and new opportunities to do better.

If you’re interested in more of how we’ve approached this work over time, we’ve shared additional reflections here:

The Meaningful Change of B Corporations

Gratitude for the Journey

On a personal note, having spent nearly 20 years in the coffee industry and 12 years on this B Corp journey, it’s hard not to feel a deep sense of gratitude.

This work is local for us. It shows up in our communities, in our cafes, and in the relationships we build every day. But it’s also global – connected to producers, partners, and a broader movement that extends far beyond any one business.

To be part of that, and to contribute in even a small way, is something we don’t take lightly.

And if there’s one thing these past years have made clear, it’s that progress doesn’t happen alone. It happens together.

So whether you’ve been part of this journey for years or just recently joined us, thank you. We’re grateful to be in this work alongside you and we’re looking forward to what we continue to learn next.