The Little Marionette
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Sydney specialty coffee roaster.
The Little Marionette can't show that the people who grow its coffee in Colombia and Ethiopia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
Better-graded beans and roasters
Graded higher than The Little Marionette, selling the same kinds of things.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 5
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsSome of its coffee is grown in countries such as Colombia and Indonesia, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, partly in countries with poor worker rights
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using The Little Marionette's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
- A product carrying the Fairtrade mark: Good
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where its coffee is grown
From press and retailer reports; The Little Marionette doesn't say where its coffee is grown. The rest is shown as where coffee is usually grown.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Colombia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Ethiopia | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Peru | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Uganda | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| HondurasUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| GuatemalaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: 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.
Research notes The Little Marionette says it buys traceable coffee from carefully selected farms, and its single origins name farms and washing stations in Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, India, Peru, Uganda and Indonesia, plus Burundi, Rwanda and Costa Rica (Volcan Azul). A coffee guide says about 80% is bought through direct farm relationships, but the company itself publishes no direct-trade share, prices paid or certifications, and its main blends name no origins. No modern slavery statement is required at its size.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | No Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification is claimed on its products or website. View |
| B Corp directory | Not listed | Not a Certified B Corp; no certification is mentioned on its website. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not covered | A small private roaster below the A$100m revenue threshold, so it is not required to lodge a modern slavery statement. View |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Listed | Coffee from Brazil (child and forced labour), Colombia and Uganda (child labour), origins it sells, is on the US DOL list. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor - US DOL · search the archive · Coffee from Brazil (child and forced labour), Colombia and Uganda (child labour) is on the US DOL list.
- The Little Marionette - The Way to Coffee · search the archive · Lists single origins from Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, India, Peru, Uganda, Indonesia, Burundi, Rwanda; about 80% bought direct.
- Colombia Finca Campo Hermoso - The Way to Coffee · search the archive · Lot from producer Edwin Norena, bought via the Santuario Project; no price disclosed.
Published by The Little Marionette or its owner
- Our Story - The Little Marionette · search the archive · Founded 2010 by Ed Cutcliffe in Sydney's Inner West; buys traceable beans from selected farms; Rozelle roastery; US arm.
- The Little Marionette home page · search the archive · Blends described as ethically sourced with no origins; Colombian single origins; tasting room in Rozelle; no certifications.
- The Little Marionette - all products · search the archive · Pods, drip bags and single origins including Colombia Campos Hermoso and Gesha Spirits; blends name no origins.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is The Little Marionette ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/the-little-marionette, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent The Little Marionette.