WHAT IT IS
Before + Now is dedicated to bringing the voices of marginalized coffee farmers into the field of vision of everyday coffee consumers. It includes a series of photographs made by coffee farmers in Burundi, East Africa as well as a large-format portrait of each farmer. This series makes it possible not only to see life in East Africa and the coffee process; but also to connect clearly with the dreams, fears, and hopes of coffee farmers.
WHY IT MATTERS
The world now consumes upwards of 500 billion cups of coffee each year. In the United States alone, 450 million cups of coffee are consumed every day. And yet, most coffee drinkers could not tell you much about how coffee is grown or who grows it. We believe that by sharing the stories of coffee farmers, people can make more informed choices about the coffee they choose to drink. Creating a space for people to get to know the faces behind the coffee they drink facilitates both connection and understanding. Before & Now is an invitation to connect to the humanity of the coffee process.