A 250 g bag of coffee looks like a simple object. But inside there are at least six countries, dozens of people and a journey of more than 10,000 kilometres. At Democratic Market we don't list a product without knowing that journey. Here is what we found when we followed it.
The bean: Tarrazú, Costa Rica (EIU 8.00 / 10)
The Coffea arabica beans in this batch come from the Tarrazú region, on the central slopes of Costa Rica, between 1,400 and 1,900 metres above sea level. Costa Rica scored 8.00 on the EIU Democracy Index 2025, classifying it as a full democracy — the only one in Central America. The country abolished its army in 1948, has a well-established free press and holds competitive elections with sustained turnout above 65%.
The producers' cooperative that works with the brand audited by Democratic Market is certified by Fairtrade International and Rainforest Alliance. Both certifications require transparency in the payment chain and environmental standards. Democratic Market's AI verified these certifications against the public records of both organisations.
Roasting: Netherlands (EIU 9.00 / 10)
The green coffee travels in refrigerated containers to Rotterdam — Europe's largest port — where an artisan roaster processes it. The Netherlands scores 9.00 on the EIU index, ranking 12th worldwide. Roasting at origin (not at destination) is a deliberate choice by the brand: it reduces emissions from transporting already-processed product and allows more precise quality control.
The kraft paper packaging: Portugal (EIU 7.94 / 10)
The outer kraft paper bag comes from an FSC-certified paper mill in Portugal (EIU 7.94, flawed democracy). FSC certification guarantees that the wood used comes from sustainably managed forests. Democratic Market's AI cross-referenced the FSC certification number with the organisation's public database.
The degassing valve: Germany (EIU 8.98 / 10)
That small round piece on the bag — the degassing valve — lets the CO₂ released by freshly roasted coffee escape the packaging without oxygen getting in. It is manufactured in Germany (EIU 8.98), which ranks 13th on the global democracy index. A small detail, but essential for maintaining freshness.
Printing inks: Sweden (EIU 9.81 / 10)
The inks used to print the label come from a Scandinavian manufacturer based in Sweden — the country that tops the EIU index with 9.81 points. The inks comply with the European EuPIA regulation and are certified as suitable for indirect food contact.
The result: composite score 8.54 / 10
The weighted average of all components yields a score of 8.54 — full democracy across every ingredient. No component comes from a country with a score below 6.0. The product is eligible for the Democratic Market Transparency Shield.
All of this is published, component by component, on the product page. You don't have to take our word for it: you can follow every link and check every source yourself.
The EIU Democracy Index measures 167 countries across five dimensions: electoral process, functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties. Only countries with a score above 6.0 can appear on Democratic Market.
