Starbucks C.A.F.E. Practices

Ensuring ethical sourcing for coffee

What is Starbucks C.A.F.E. Practices?

SCS Global Services works with Starbucks to develop the Coffee And Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices standard to ensure that Starbucks is sourcing sustainably grown and processed coffee. Starbucks defines sustainability as an economically viable model that addresses the social and environmental needs of all the participants in the supply chain from farmer to consumer. The standard promotes transparency, profitability, and responsible coffee-growing and coffee-processing practices while improving the livelihoods of coffee farmers and workers and conserving natural habitat for communities. The C.A.F.E. Practices Generic and Smallholder Scorecards encompass a comprehensive set of more than 200 social, economic and environmental indicators that are assessed in the third-party audits.

Looking for an approved Verification Organization?

See a list of our Approved Verification Organizations

Starbucks relies on SCS Global Services (SCS) to ensure the quality and integrity of the third-party verification process for its C.A.F.E. Practices. We train and approve third-party organizations who verify suppliers participating in C.A.F.E. Practices.

Read about Starbucks ethical sourcing process and SCS’ role here

Looking for Scorecards or other Resources?

Documents for Verification Organizations and Suppliers are available in the tables below.

For Supplier questions, contact Starbucks Farmer Support Center: [email protected]

C.A.F.E. Practices

Guidance for Version 4.0

Title
C.A.F.E. Practices Revision English | Spanish | Portuguese
Starbucks Webinar: Roll-out of C.A.F.E. Practices Revision 2025 English | Spanish | Portuguese

Document for Verification Organizations

Title
Auditing and Training Manual V2.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Child Labor Guidance V1.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Closing Meeting Signature Form English | Spanish | Portuguese
Complaints and Appeals Procedure English | Spanish | Portuguese
Discrepancies Template English | Spanish
Field Notes V2.0 of Scorecard V3.4 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Indicator Guidance Reference V2.0 of Scorecard V3.4 English | Spanish | Portuguese
List of Indicators that Require Documentation V1.1 of Scorecard V3.4 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Roles and Responsibilities of Observers in C.A.F.E. Practices Verifications and Audits V2.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Starbucks – Un Árbol Por Cada Bolsa Spanish
Verification Organization Application Form English | Spanish
Verification Organization Approval Procedure V3.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Verification Planning Template V3.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Verifier and Inspector Operations Manual V7.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
VGU 18 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Volume Guidance V1.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
VRS User Manual V3.0 English | Spanish
Zero Tolerance Corrective Action Plan (ZT-CAP) Procedure Manual V1.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese

Document for Suppliers

Title
Child Labor Guidance V1.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Commitment Letter for Producer English | Spanish | Portuguese
Letter of Voluntary Withdrawal English | Spanish | Portuguese
List of Indicators that Require Documentation V1.1 of Scorecard V3.4 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Supplier Application Template English | Spanish
Supplier Self Evaluation V3.4 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Template for Toxic Load Calculator English | Spanish
Terms and Conditions V4.2 English | Spanish | Portuguese
Zero Tolerance Corrective Action Plan (ZT-CAP) Procedure Manual V1.0 English | Spanish | Portuguese