Back in 2015, we launched our first direct trade program, The E1 Project. The aim was simple; to find a partner that we could build a long-lasting relationship with and who could deliver high volumes of consistently great coffee. For this, we turned to Ricardo Lima (pictured above), part of a family of passionate farmers and producers from El Salvador. Ricardo’s drive for change and reform for Salvadorian coffee is second to none, him and his family over recent years have been at for the forefront of the region's focus on speciality coffee, pushing for a truly sustainable future and working with local communities to generate wide-spread change. E1 became the foundation of our sourcing program, and now we're proud to say that 90% of our coffee volume is being bought directly from origin through our own relationships. Over 10 years on, E1 remains one of our most popular coffees, and it stands as a firm reminder of the development we've made towards sourcing and how rewarding the effects a truly transparent supply chain can have for everyone involved.