Saint Basil Coffee Blends Gourmet Coffee with a Good Cause; Eliminate Poverty with a cup of coffee

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2006--In December of 2004, Saint Basil Coffee (http://www.saintbasilcoffee.com) opened its virtual doors to sell fine coffee and reach out to people in need. A Houston, Texas family, inspired by the work of an 84 year-old Catholic missionary in Colombia, has created a non-profit organization, Saint Basil Coffee, to help impoverished people in Latin America. Saint Basil Coffee is an all volunteer-run organization striving to bring excellent coffee to its customers while helping to eliminate poverty.

Between January 2005 and February 2006, Saint Basil Coffee distributed $40,000 to missions in Latin America. Within these missions, education and job training are made available to adults and children. The missions also provide food relief and help struggling families establish small businesses.

“It is so easy to be a co-missionary. All you have to do is drink a cup of Saint Basil Coffee and you help someone.”

In addition, the coffee that Saint Basil Coffee offers its customers is bought from independent farmers at "fair trade" prices. Fair trade certified coffee growers agree to meet a set of production standards, including the use of ecologically sustainable growing methods. In return, fair trade importers like Saint Basil Coffee purchase the coffee at a price set higher than the current world market price. By purchasing its coffee at fair trade prices, Saint Basil Coffee helps small independent growers exceed their production costs and pay higher wages to their laborers.

Saint Basil Coffee is made from organic arabica coffee beans cultivated and hand picked by family growers in the mountains of Colombia at altitudes over 3,000 feet. The beans produce a rich, full-bodied coffee through a roasting process that has been carefully tested in order to provide Saint Basil Coffee customers with the perfect cup. For the best aroma and taste, the beans are not roasted until an order is placed. Orders received are sent directly to the roasting company, and the freshly roasted beans are then shipped to the customer.

Director Jim Boyles states, "It is so easy to be a co-missionary. All you have to do is drink a cup of Saint Basil Coffee and you help someone."

Saint Basil Coffee can be purchased online at http://www.saintbasilcoffee.com. Saint Basil Coffee is also available to organizations as a sale item for fund-raisers. All profits go to benefit the world missions of the Basilian Fathers.