The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/19/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: ILANA MCQUINN Ben Meyers, master roaster of 1000faces Coffee, and barista Laura Humphries of Athens, showcase their product at the Athens Farmer's Market on Saturday. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: ILANA MCQUINN Black Gold is a movie playing at Ciné tonight about the exploitation and unfair treatment of farmers in the coffee industry. [Click to enlarge]

It's 8 a.m. Do you know where your coffee came from?

Ben Myers, master roaster and co-owner of locally roasted 1000faces coffee, believes this is essential knowledge for a coffee drinker, because the conditions and wages under which the beans are grown are often not all that refreshing.

Tonight, in partnership with Ciné Bar Café, Myers will host a screening of "Black Gold," a documentary that explores the plight of the coffee bean growers and how fair trade strives to improve their income and thus, their living condition.

"Coffee is a field that requires transparency," Myers said. "If you can't trace the coffee back to the grower, you might as well be drinking blood."

Preceding the film, Myers and other roasters at 1000faces will unveil a never-before tasted blend, "Red Ribbon Roast," and will have their other fair traded varieties for tasting as well. Proceeds from the appropriately named new roast will go directly to AIDS Athens. In addition to the coffee tasting, Farm 255 and Jesse Burch will provide desserts.


Kamala Lyons, director of Ciné, said that events such as tonight's are what she initially envisioned for Ciné.

"We especially (seek involvement) where we can connect with other businesses in the community to raise awareness, or just to have a good time."

The film is fairly short, approximately 90 minutes, so there will also be a panel discussion following the film. Myers said that he expects the documentary to provoke thoughts and questions in the audience.

"The panel will also discuss how to relate these issues to local concerns, and that's what's great about the people at 1000faces," Lyons said.

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