Market Lane Coffee
Self-reported* Self-reported. Market Lane Coffee is a small, independent business that says it buys directly from named farms. That usually means better prices for farmers, but it hasn't published what it pays or any independent checks, and there's no way yet to confirm that pay reaches the farm workers who pick the crop. If a labour problem is confirmed, its grade drops to Poor. Why we allow this
Market Lane Coffee is a small, independent business built around buying directly from named farms, which usually means better prices for farmers. It hasn't published what it pays or any independent checks, so this rests on its own word.
Last researched 8 October 2026
Heading in the right direction. Workers are paid enough to live on, or the company is certified as working towards it, and there are no serious warning signs. One piece is still unproven. What this grade means
Good: 1 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 1 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 1
- Hidden or unaudited supply chain (no certification or documentation, or major production in countries with poor worker rights without independent audits)
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guatemala 33% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Brazil 33% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Colombia 33% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Coffee is on the US Department of Labor child or forced labour list for over a dozen countries, and farm-gate prices often fall below a living income. (partly offset by certification or direct sourcing)
- Certified B Corp: Whole-company assessment. Labour is one part of the score, so it is supportive rather than proof.
- Direct trade (self-reported)
- Built around direct trade with named farms or producers
- Invests in worker and farming communities
- Small, independent business built around direct trade with named farms. Graded Almost good on its own word, as it hasn't published prices or independent checks. Any confirmed labour problem would move it to Poor.
Market Lane Coffee is an independent Melbourne roaster, founded in 2009 and run by its co-owners, that buys through long-term relationships with named growers and cooperatives in Guatemala, Rwanda, Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia. It says producers set their own prices, which are well above commodity and Fairtrade minimum prices, but it does not publish the prices it pays for each coffee or how much it buys from each origin. It is a certified B Corp, scoring 106.9 at its 2026 recertification, and no labour cases involving its cafés have been reported. Shares are estimated as equal across the named origins, as volumes aren't published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Found | Certified B Corp since September 2022 with an overall score of 106.9 (Workers 22.9). View ↗ |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Found | Coffee is on the US list of goods made with child labour for several countries, including Colombia, one of Market Lane's origins; the brand itself is not named. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No allegations against Market Lane Coffee are recorded. View ↗ |
Sources (6)
- How We Buy Coffee (Market Lane Coffee) · archived copy · Named producers and cooperatives in Guatemala, Rwanda, Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia; prices described as well above commodity and Fairtrade prices but no per-coffee prices published; Santa Clara schol
- Market Lane Coffee - B Corp directory · archived copy · Certified B Corp since September 2022; overall score 106.9; Workers score 22.9; headquartered in Victoria, Australia
- Our B Corp recertification (Market Lane Coffee) · archived copy · Recertified as a B Corp in 2026 with score rising from 96.8 to 106.9
- Unpacking our B Corp certification (Market Lane Coffee) · archived copy · Owned by co-owners Fleur, Jason and Jenni; Melbourne café locations and Brunswick East roastery
- Celebrating great coffee and using business for good with new B Corp Market Lane Coffee (B Lab Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand) · archived copy · Founded in 2009 by Fleur Studd and Jason Scheltus; avoids commodity coffee buying in favour of long-term relationships
- List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (US Department of Labor) · archived copy · Coffee from several countries, including Colombia, is listed for child labour
Last researched 8 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.