An End to ‘Second-Hand’ Coffee

Learn and Talk III – Lesson 1

Preview
Words Expressions

at first glance
1. luscious /ˈlʌʃ.əs/ [adjective]
having a pleasant sweet taste or containing a lot of juice
a multitude of
2. dedication /ˌded.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ [noun]
the willingness to give a lot of time and energy to something because it is important is anything but

3. ache /eɪk/ [verb] blend into

to have a continuous pain that is unpleasant but not very strong
be infected with
4. coveted /'kʌvitid/ [adjective]
strongly desired by many

5. intermediary /ˌɪn.təˈmiː.di.ə.ri/ [noun]

someone who carries messages between people who are unwilling or unable to
meet

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 1

Article

An End to ‘Second-Hand’ Coffee

At first glance, the farm didn’t look any different than the one next
door. A gravel road, flanked by short palm trees and overgrown
bush, led to a modest home overlooking hundreds of coffee trees
that sloped along the hilly landscape. Their leaves were decorated
with a multitude of brightly hued beans, ranging from vibrant yellow
to faded pink to plump, luscious red.

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 1

To the naked eye, this farm was just like any other. But it didn’t
take long to realise that the farm of Jesus Martin was anything
but ordinary. Martin grew up like many others in the Santa Ana
Valley – known as the Coffee Triangle of Colombia – on a coffee
farm owned by his father and grandfather.

“I am the youngest of six children and we all worked the farm,”

Martin said. “My parents focused their energies on teaching us
the agricultural trade, but also the love behind it.” Despite this
dedication to coffee, he ended up pursuing a different trade all
together: law and business management. However, coffee was
never far away.

During every visit to his family’s humble farm, the rich, toasted
aromas of beans roasting and the smell of his mother’s carrot
cake caused his heart to ache. Coffee was his life, and in 2004,
after years practicing law, he found a way to blend his legal
knowledge, business education and family’s lifeline into what
he dubbed “the coffee dream project”.

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 1

Despite growing some of the most coveted beans in the world,

most Colombians have never even tasted the Colombian coffee
that is renowned around the world. Instead, locals drink what
they call “second-hand coffee”, which is made from berries that
haven't fully ripened, have been over-roasted or even infected
with insects and diseases. Like most businesses in struggling
economies, the farmers only make profits on exports – so they
save their best stuff for higher paying countries.

“Farming coffee for a profit is very challenging,” Martin

explained, tossing a few berries in his hand. “The coffee trade
intermediaries, exporters, roasters and big multinationals are
the ones that benefit the most in the coffee-trade chain.”

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 1

Discussion

1. Does your family have a family business? Or what do your

family do? Do they have influences on your own career or
pursuits?
2. What do you think is the use of modern business
knowledge to traditional agriculture?
3. The first paragraph of this article is a good depicting
narration. Can you try to describe something that you like
which is beautiful or delightful?

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 Learn and Talk III – Lesson 1

Further Reading

Full Text: http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160523-an-end-to-second-hand-coffee

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