Whats in a name

Whats in a name?

Nike, Coca-Cola, Harrar, Sidamo, Yigarcheffe the last three are names of Ethopian Coffees. I consider the Ethopian coffee the best coffee in the world.

Ethiopian government launched a project to get legal ownership of its fine coffee names—Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, and Harar. By owning the names, Ethiopia will be able to occupy a stronger negotiating position with foreign buyers, capture a larger share of the market value associated with those names, and protect the reputations of its brand names.

Oxfam GBs a development, relief, and campaigning organisation that works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world. says Starbucks is hurting Ethiopia's coffee farmers. The country hopes to make more money for its coffee farmers by trademarking the area's legendary coffee beans. Many in the U.S. coffee industry, including Starbucks, say the Ethiopian plan is naive and will hurt the farmers.

Starbucks denied being behind the blocking bid by the U.S. National Coffee Association (NCA) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). (MSNBC)

“We have heard from a number of sources that actually Starbucks was involved in alerting the U.S. coffee association to block these applications,” the charity’s Jo Leadbetter said.
It “stinks of corporate bullying” she told the BBC.


So there you go. Trademark your beans. I think its a good idea. And in case your curious about this wonderful coffee
Cafe campesino offers an Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Medium Fair Trade Organic coffee for sale.

I see this as a great way for the suppliers to get the buyers to meet them in the middle and provide more to the growers

A few Facts about Ethiopia

Life expectancy at birth:
male: 47.86 years
female: 50.24 years (2006 est.

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.5 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 120,000 (2003 est.)