A new smartphone application allows coffee consumers to tip the Colombian farmers who grow the beans.
The “Propina“ app platform, launched in late August, was developed by Grupo Crawford. Its founder, Crawford Hawkins, reportedly was inspired to help Colombian coffee farmers after working on a farm with a non-profit organization.
Propina actually operates on two apps. One, which will be shown on iPads in coffee shops, allows customers to send tips to the farms where each retail outlet sources its coffee beans. The second app, running on other mobile devices, allows consumers to directly send money to their café’s beans source or donate to a general farmers fund, according to a Reuters report. All money, which will be managed by Colombia’s pension administrator, is intended to support farmers no matter the actual price of coffee.
The app also will allow individual consumers to make recurring donations and receive updates directly from farmers.
Hawkins told Reuters the in-business app will first launch with Madrid roasters SupraCafe before expanding to chains in the United States.
He also said some farms have problems attracting workers to perform physically taxing duties for limited pay. Additional income via the Colombian pension fund, however, may entice more people to take the jobs.