40 HANDS: LAVAZZA STORIES WORTH SHARING

Behind every flavorful cup of coffee, there is a unique exchange that starts it all. An exciting story worth sharing with others.

From when it is scattered into the soil to when it is poured into the cup, a coffee bean undertakes a wondrous journey. It travels long distances: over deserts, seas and across latitudes.

Some even say it passes through 40 pairs of hands before arriving to yours.

This is where Lavazza’s 40 Hands story comes into play.

40 Hands tells the story of a group of pioneers united by their unwavering passion for coffee farming, offering you a chance to explore the world of coffee through our people’s stories.

Thanks to this initiative, you can learn more about the land where coffee is grown and about the families who cultivate it.

Below is a glimpse into a few of our favorite stories: 

Asnakech Thomas Biene is a coffee grower from Ethiopia.

For Asnakech, like many Ethiopians, coffee is synonymous with happiness.

Known as green gold, coffee is deeply rooted in the country’s traditions, and is a source of sustenance for many of its inhabitants. It is often referred to as the backbone of Ethiopia.

Asnakech has chosen to work with several associations and companies, including Lavazza, to support coffee farmers, educate them and pass on her passion for coffee. She believes that everyone in Africa should have access to this healthy and unique beverage that brings people closer together and recharges their energy.

Somboun Saj Boukea is a coffee farmer from the village of Katuan, Laos.

To Somboun, clean air means good productivity and a greener Earth.

Every day, Somboun works to keep the Earth alive and healthy. He believes that working sustainably is the best way to enrich the soil and produce the highest-quality coffee.

He is currently partnering with Olam and Lavazza to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the Paksong region and improve the practices of coffee cultivation and processing across Laos.

He belongs to an agricultural community where coffee farming represents 90% of their activities. Somboun’s community has been producing coffee since the 1920s and, as a result of their extensive experience and expertise, the coffee beans grown in his region are highly valued and much sought after.

Anayibe Pineda Treviño is 14 years old. She currently attends the Eurocapiones La Señora del Carmen School. Her family and community have been working as coffee growers for generations. Her grandmother Carmen, who still works the land and grows coffee, is her role model.

To Anayibe and her family, sustainably grown coffee means more life.

In addition to pursuing an education, Anayibe is learning the secrets behind the beans at her grandmother's side. She often completes her schoolwork in the fields while helping her grandmother work on their land, harvesting and drying coffee.

Anayibe plans to carry on her family’s legacy by learning how to grow coffee in a sustainable manner, all the while respecting her community’s harvesting traditions and knowledge.