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Crop to Cup
"Good coffee comes from good people."
Crop to Cup
Our relationship

ZAB × Crop to Cup A strong partnership since our early days.

It all started in 2018, in New York, when Simon went to take his Q-Grader course. There he met Maya, the co-owner of Crop to Cup, and it was friendship at first sight! We were friends even before we were partners.

Back then, Zab was growing fast but didn't yet have an official importing partner. We started by buying all our Brazilian coffee through them, at São Luiz Estate Coffee, and the following year we went to meet them for what would become our very first trip to origin!

Crop to Cup, which was a smaller company back then than it is today, got its start in Uganda, the African country where its founder Jake began importing coffee. Very strong on coffees from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi, it was only natural that we built our Ethiopian program with them.

Since 2018, we've bought all our Brazilian coffee and the vast majority of our Ethiopian coffees from them. Far more than a business relationship, it's a loyal friendship since that very first cupping!

ZAB and Crop to Cup travelling
Crop to Cup, green coffee importer
Who is Crop to Cup

The importer From Uganda to Brooklyn.

Founded in 2006 by Jake Elster and Taylor Mork while they were working in Uganda, Crop to Cup was born from a simple idea: to help small producers of exceptional coffee reach the North American market. Now led by Jake Elster and Ben Heins, it remains an independent small business based in Brooklyn, representing around 140 communities across 15 producing countries.

Its mission: to connect growers and coffee lovers directly. The company works first and foremost with communities of smallholder producers in underrepresented regions of the "coffee belt" — a direct, ethical importer focused on traceability and farmer empowerment.

Sourcing, services and impact

"Good coffee comes from good people." — Crop to Cup

Crop to Cup stands out for its relationship-driven sourcing: remarkable coffees from more than 100 communities, chosen for their traceability and responsible practices. The company supports producers — harvest, logistics, marketing — and gives roasters like ZAB access to unique lots. It also offers educational resources and equipment through Showroom Coffee and Arc Roasters.

At the heart of it all: investing in the people who make coffee special. Crop to Cup prioritizes lasting relationships, transparency and a fair return for producers, while encouraging innovation.

Crop to Cup
Crop to Cup relationship-driven sourcing and impact