Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts across the United States have a new proprietary coffee brand called First Drop Coffee, which is made 100% from coffee beans harvested by Rainforest Alliance Certified farms in Mexico and Brazil.
In addition, select hotels will feature the First Drop Reserve, also a 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee. The coffee is roasted in small batches using only the top 3% of the world’s Arabica coffees. The Ritz-Carlton blend hails from East Africa, Central America and South America. Each single origin component is roasted one bag at a time to maximize the flavor profile of that specific bean. Only after each origin has been roasted are the coffees blended together.
“We believe it is the right thing to do and our guests also share this passion,” said Rainer Zinngrebe, vice president culinary and corporate chef for The Ritz-Carlton. “But the best thing about First Drop is the taste. It caters to the current coffee palate of our guests and applies well to a variety of brewing methods from pour-over, French press, Chemex, and every espresso combination.”
Rainforest Alliance Certified farms meet standards for sustainable agriculture that protect wild-lands, waterways, wildlife habitat and the rights and well-being of workers, their families and communities.
Approximately 90% of First Drop comes from Finca La Puebla, located in the Sierra Norte de Puebla in Mexico. Approximately 40,000 families make their living from coffee in this region.