Peace Coffee

Peace Coffee was established in 1996 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). The company’s origins are rooted in the IATP’s mission to support family farmers during the agricultural crises of the 1980s. The brand name was inspired by the 1996 Guatemalan Peace Accords and a partnership with Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú, leading to the initial marketing of their coffee as 'Guatemalan Peace Coffee.' Over time, the company expanded its sourcing to include cooperatives across multiple continents, while maintaining its foundational commitment to organic and fair-trade certifications.

A central pillar of the company’s operational model is its status as a founding member of Cooperative Coffees, a roaster-owned green coffee importing cooperative. This collective, which includes dozens of North American roasters, was created to facilitate direct, ethical trade relationships with small-scale producer organizations. In 2020, this importing model was recognized by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) with a Sustainability Award in the Business Model category, highlighting the cooperative's efforts to foster transparency and long-term economic stability for farmers.

Throughout its history, Peace Coffee has operated as a mission-driven entity, eventually becoming a Certified B Corp. The company’s sourcing philosophy emphasizes purchasing from farmer-owned cooperatives to help producers navigate market volatility and climate-related challenges. By 2020, the company reported having purchased over ten million pounds of green coffee from small-scale cooperatives in more than 12 countries, including Ethiopia, Peru, Nicaragua, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For much of its existence, Peace Coffee maintained a physical presence in the Twin Cities through its own retail coffee shops. However, in 2020, the company made a strategic shift to exit the brick-and-mortar retail sector. As part of this transition, it facilitated the handover of its original shop location to Wildflyer Coffee, a non-profit organization focused on providing employment and stability to youth experiencing homelessness.

Today, Peace Coffee focuses its operations on roasting and distribution through grocery stores, food co-ops, and e-commerce channels. The company maintains its roasting headquarters in Minneapolis, where it has invested in production capacity to support its growth in the Midwest and beyond. Its product line consists of various organic and fair-trade blends, which are distributed to a wide range of retail partners, including major national chains.

The company has undergone changes in ownership and structure over its nearly three-decade history. Following its initial founding by a non-profit, it has operated as a private entity, with recent reports indicating a transition to a new ownership group in early 2026. Despite these shifts, the brand continues to emphasize its long-standing commitment to the fair-trade model and its original mission of connecting consumers with sustainably produced coffee from small-scale farmers.