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What do you really know about coffee, the world's second largest traded commodity (behind oil)? In 2006 Bridge Builders began to offer trips to coffee growing regions of Guatemala with Pura Vida Coffee. Beginning with an American University trip in 2006 Bridge Builders began to see the important value of trips like this to both general consumers and also to graduate and undergraduate students interested in business and sustainable development. Since that first trip there have been numerous types of coffee learning/serving experiences partnering with a variety of coffee growers, cooperatives, and coffee companies.

Bridge Builders has provided universities such University of South Florida – St. Petersburg MBA program, Graduate Business School at Stanford and American University with the opportunity to not only examine the business of coffee but to also work alongside workers. While the program may change from client to client all groups are given the opportunity to go work with coffee growers for a day or two. The experience of picking the coffee cherry or of pruning the coffee plants changes how one views that grande latte back at home.

In addition some groups explore connected issues such as: women's role in the coffee business; educational efforts of coffee cooperatives through libraries; micro-lending by cooperatives to member growers; and health care issues in coffee growing regions. Bridge Builders has vast numbers of contacts and will design a trip to fit the needs of your university or high school program. Trips may include meetings with the government arm of coffee, coffee tastings, working with workers, comparing organic with non-organic, explanations of different certification processes (Fair Trade, Organic, Rainforest, etc.).

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