With new owners comes positive changes at Vicki’s Coffee Corner. Since November 1st 2007, all coffee and espresso drinks sold by Vicki’s use only organic, Fair Trade Certified, shade grown coffee beans.
Vicki's also replaced the Styrofoam cups with compostable cups. Most paper coffee cups are not recyclable because of a plastic lining that keeps them from getting soggy. Vicki's new cups, made by International Paper, use a plastic lining made from corn. Not only are these cups recyclable, but they are compostable as well.
"People demonstrate a willingness to travel for products that support their personal beliefs," said Vicki's spokesman Ron DuBois. “Our coffee’s, tea’s and chocolate products not only taste better than anyone else’s, they are better for your body, better for the environment, and better for the world economy.”
While other coffee shops offer the occasional organic coffee, Vicki's is the only coffee house in Hot Springs that exclusively sells Organic, Fair Trade, Shade Grown products.
Starbucks and other chains sell organic and Fair Trade whole beans for customers to brew at home, and they sometimes brew it in their stores. However, the espresso in Starbucks' lattes and other coffee drinks is not organic or Fair Trade-certified, except in select areas where consumers demand Fair Trade coffee, such as some college campuses.
Coffee, tea, chocolate and other products are certified as Fair Trade Organic by a third party that ensures producers such as coffee farmers receive a fair price and that they meet strict environmental standards.
