Innovation

ESCoffee was founded 25 years ago in Ecuador by Miguel Rendon with a vision to transform the country’s coffee industry into a fair, sustainable, and profitable system for small farmers. At that time, coffee growers were earning only 25 cents per pound, far below the cost of production. Miguel saw an opportunity and created a direct trade model that connected farmers with consumers, ensuring producers received fair compensation for their hard work. He partnered with 500 farmers and began paying them above-market prices, helping them move from poverty to stability. Today, ES Coffee works with nearly 1,000 farmers across 22 provinces, all earning at least $4 per pound of coffee- a significant improvement from where they started.

The innovation behind ESCoffee is in its sustainable value chain and community-based business model. Instead of focusing solely on profit, the company invests in education, training, and quality improvement for local farmers. It also collaborates with global organizations like the Coffee Quality Institute, World Coffee Research, and USAID to implement best practices in coffee cultivation and environmental protection. This approach promotes both economic empowerment and ecological sustainability, aligning directly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of No Poverty (SDG 1), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).

ESCoffee has improved the lives of over 50,000 families in Ecuador and beyond through these efforts. The success of EScoffee has inspired many similar businesses in Peru, Spain, and Africa, showing that sustainable entrepreneurship can create real change. By changing how coffee is grown, sold, and valued, ESCoffee is not just producing better coffee — it’s brewing a better future.

Inspiration

The inspiration behind ESCoffee came from founder Miguel Rendon’s deep concern for the struggles of small coffee farmers in Ecuador and a life-changing conversation that pushed him to take action. During his time working at Monsanto, Miguel discovered that coffee farmers were being paid as little as 25 cents per pound, even though producing one pound of coffee cost more than a dollar. This sparked his desire to create a fair and sustainable system that could benefit the farmers and their communities.

His defining moment came during a flight to Venezuela with Luis Barker, the CEO of Pronaca. Miguel recalled, “He asked me, what do you want to do to change the world? I said, I have this crazy idea of changing the coffee structure in Ecuador.” Inspired by Miguel’s vision, Barker wrote him a $25,000 check on the spot to start his company — a gesture that changed Miguel’s life forever. “I couldn’t even cash the check because I was still an employee of Monsanto,” Miguel said, “so I quit my job and started the company.”

Miguel’s motivation grew stronger over time as he saw the real impact of his work. Reflecting on a farmer named Angelino Abatt, who once considered emigrating to Spain but now runs a successful coffee brand, Miguel shared, “When I look through the time and see all the farmers whose lives have changed, I feel proud. Because of our sustainable entrepreneurship, we have changed the lives of more than 50,000 families in Ecuador.”

His story is one of courage, vision, and compassion — a dream that turned into a movement for sustainable growth.

Overall impact

When ESCoffee was founded 25 years ago in Ecuador by Miguel Rendon, the short-term goal was to ensure fair wages for small coffee farmers who were being underpaid and exploited. In the early years, the company began by partnering with 500 farmers, paying them $1.50 per pound of coffee- significantly higher than the market price of 25 cents. This increase in income allowed farmers to reinvest in their farms and improve the quality of their crops, supporting their families. Communities that once faced poverty began to see stability and hope. Farmers who had planned to leave the country for better opportunities started to stay, seeing a future in coffee again.

Over the long term, the impact of ESCoffee has been extreme and measurable. Today, the company works with 1,000 farmers across 22 provinces and has helped them to transform the Ecuadorian coffee industry. Miguel shared that “there is no producer I pay less than $4 a pound now.” This marks a fourfold increase in income and a major shift toward economic equality. A great example of this impact is the story of Angelino Abatt, a farmer from Olmedo who won Ecuador’s Cup of Excellence three times, all thanks to ESCoffee’s support. His success showed how the company’s model made farmers strong enough to produce world-class coffee and to improve their communities.

The evidence of ESCoffee’s long-term impact is seen in the numbers and in lives changed; over 50,000 families have benefited from this sustainable farming, education, and fair trade. This innovation has proven that ethical entrepreneurship can create lasting social and economic transformation.

Business benefit

ESCoffee created a fair-trade, sustainable business model that has generated significant growth and opportunities for both farmers and employees. The company began as a small operation working with 500 farmers and only a handful of staff. Today, it employs over 40 full-time workers and collaborates with nearly 1,000 coffee farmers across 22 provinces. The company now earns around $500,000 monthly, which amounts to $5–6 million annually. This growth shows not just profitability but also a business that reinvests its earnings in farmer training, environmental conservation, and improved production facilities, ensuring long-term sustainability and employee well-being.

Because the business focused on sustainability and transparency, ESCoffee has expanded into new international markets by collaborating with major organisations such as USAID, World Coffee Research, and the Coffee Quality Institute, thereby enhancing its credibility and attracting new investments. Through these initiatives, ESCoffee has not only increased economic growth but also strengthened the well-being and stability of its employees and partner farmers. By reinvesting profits into communities and making sure of fair wages, education, and sustainable farming. This business has built a model that proves social responsibility and profitability can thrive together, creating lasting change in local and international markets.

Social and environmental benefit

Founded 25 years ago in Ecuador by Miguel Rendon, ESCoffee's innovation benefits society and the environment by creating a sustainable, fair-trade coffee model that boosts communities while protecting natural resources. The company directly connects small farmers with consumers, removing exploitative middlemen and ensuring that producers are fairly compensated for their work. By paying farmers much higher prices for their coffee —now at least $4 per pound —ESCoffee has improved thousands of families' lives and reduced poverty. This fair income allows farmers to invest in education, healthcare, and better living conditions, creating a positive effect throughout their communities.

Environmentally, ESCoffee promotes sustainable farming practices that protect soil health, conserve water, and reduce the use of harmful chemicals. Through partnerships with organizations such as World Coffee Research and the Coffee Quality Institute, the company trains farmers to follow eco-friendly cultivation methods and climate-resilient techniques. These practices not only increase crop quality but also preserve biodiversity in Ecuador’s coffee-growing regions.

Because the business integrates social responsibility with environmental management, it serves as a model for ethical entrepreneurship in addressing global challenges. ESCoffee’s work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly No Poverty (SDG 1), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). By empowering farmers, protecting ecosystems, and promoting conscious consumption, ES Coffee demonstrates that sustainable business can brew a better, fairer world for everyone.

Interview

Miguel Rendón Fontaine, Founder