On its website, Panera vaguely states that all of its coffee is brewed from Central and South American beans, without providing further details about the coffee’s origin.

The only name that popped up during our search for Panera’s supplier is Distant Lands Coffee, which was the coffee supplier for Panera’s bakery-cafes in 2013, per a press release.

Veteran ornithologist and ecologist Julie Craves confirmed with a Panera outlet that the beans come from Distant Lands’ partners in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, and Brazil.

If we assume that these companies are still partners, it seems that Panera is in good hands, given Distant Lands’ reputation for sustainable and ethical operations.

Per Distant Lands Coffee’s webpage, staff and farmers working on the plantations are paid higher wages than average, and they get healthcare, modern housing, and a retirement plan.

The farms at Distant Lands don’t use pesticides or herbicides and are partners of the Rainforest Alliance. Plus, the company uses clean, renewable energy for its daily operations.