A Vision of Potential

Over a decade ago, founders Ben and Kristy Carlson set out on a journey to Burundi, where they witnessed injustice and poor farming practices in the newly privatized coffee industry. In response, Long Miles Coffee was born out of a vision for positive change, addressing the challenges faced by both farmers accessing markets to profitably sell their coffee and roasters seeking high-quality coffee from Burundi. Long Miles is rewriting the narrative of coffee production and paving the way for regenerative agriculture through holistic impact.

Realized Potential

“To us, coffee production is a combined effort that takes into account the needs of coffee farmers and the needs of the roasters we work with worldwide. When you trust us with a coffee not only do you get a thoughtfully produced coffee, but you are directly impacting coffee farming communities.” - Ben Carlson

Ubuntu - I am because we are.

In Burundi, we work with 7,500 smallholding farmers, who each grow less than a bag of coffee per annum to bring to market.

To accomplish this, we have built, own and operate 3 washing stations and work with farmers on 12 unique hills. We also own farms that stand alongside these smallholder farmers. These farms act as model farms for the surrounding communities and give them a chance to experiment alongside our Coffee Scouts. Coffee Scouts are the backbone of our operation, serving as trainers and advocates for both farmers and the Long Miles team. From nursery care to harvest, they guide farmers, helping elevate the quality of Burundian coffee from good to exceptional.⁠

Our Story Team is on the ground, listening to farmers’ life stories and how they began working in coffee. We value them for creating space for farmers to feel heard. This helps us understand current and urgent needs, environmental and social happenings, and ensures year-round connection, support and help with the farmers.

This team didn’t start overnight and the trust that farmers have in Long Miles didn’t either. It took years of living in Burundi, meeting farmers in the upcountry everyday, working alongside them and learning from them, that got us to where we are today.

By seeking to create a positive experience for everyone that we interact with in the supply circle, we’re building and strengthening our internal relationships, keeping our core value of “Ubuntu” – “I am because we are,” centerstage in everything we do.