I want a coffee bean that is fair trade and does not look oily (medium roast).

A true medium roast that stops before the oils are pushed out to the surface of the bean will have a dry, matte finish rather than a shiny or oily look. Oily beans usually indicate a dark roast or a medium-dark roast where the internal temperatures cracked the bean structure enough for oils to escape.

Here are a few fantastic, ethically sourced, Fair Trade certified options featuring a proper medium roast profile with a clean, non-oily appearance:

Add to listKicking Horse Coffee Smart Ass Whole Bean - Certified Fairtrade and Organic. This bright, medium-roast blend has a smooth, non-oily finish with subtle notes of stone fruit, milk chocolate, and red currant. You can look into it directly via Kicking Horse Coffee.

Add to listPeace Coffee Peru or Colombia Medium Roast - Certified Fair Trade and Organic. They roast on the lighter side of medium, meaning the beans stay nice and dry on the outside while maintaining a balanced, sweet flavor profile. Check out the options on the Peace Coffee Store.

Add to listLevel Ground Trading Peruvian Medium Roast - A single-origin, Fair Trade certified choice that offers a smooth, sweetly balanced cup with a matte, dry bean appearance typical of small-batch artisan medium roasts. Available via the Ethical Trade Co.

Would you prefer a single-origin bean (from a specific country like Peru or Ethiopia) or a balanced blend , and what brew method (drip, pour-over, espresso) are you using?

Yes — for Fair Trade + medium roast + visibly non-oily beans, I’d focus on coffees that are explicitly medium roast rather than blends containing dark/French-roasted beans. Medium roasting generally leaves the beans much less oily; Equal Exchange notes that oils become fully expressed at darker French roasts.

My top picks

• Equal Exchange Organic Peruvian Medium Roast - $126.00 (Equal Exchange)

• Equal Exchange Organic Nicaraguan Medium Roast - $68.00 (Equal Exchange)

• Beach City Coffee Fair Trade Organic House Blend - $17.97 (Walmart)

• Cafe Altura Classic Roast Fair Trade - $15.25 (Cafe Altura)

• Fair Trade Organic Nicaragua Medium Roast - $69.99 (Paramount Coffee)

• Best overall: Equal Exchange Organic Peruvian Medium Roast. It is a true medium roast, whole bean, and has maple/grape/floral notes. Equal Exchange's coffee program is Fair Trade-focused, and this one should be a particularly good fit if you want beans that aren't shiny/oily.

• Best for a lighter, clean cup: Equal Exchange Organic Nicaraguan Medium Roast. It's medium roast with lime, sweet, and orange notes and is available as whole bean.

• Best inexpensive everyday option: Beach City Fair Trade Organic House Blend. It's specifically listed as Fair Trade + Organic + Medium Roast + whole bean.

• Best traditional flavor: Cafe Altura Classic Roast. Fairtrade-certified, medium roast, and described as balanced and rounded.

One I'd skip for your particular requirement: Equal Exchange Mind, Body & Soul. It's a Medium + Vienna blend, so some beans are roasted darker and may be noticeably more oily.

If you tell me your budget (e.g. under $15, $20, or $25 per 12 oz) and whether you prefer chocolate/nutty vs. fruity, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 bags.

Finding a medium roast that is ethically sourced (Fair Trade) and stays dry/non-oily comes down to choosing specialty roasters who stop the roasting process before the second crack (which is when the internal oils are forced out to the surface of the bean).

Here are top-tier, Fair Trade certified options known for a clean, dry (non-oily) medium-roast profile:

• The Vibe: A smooth, balanced Equal Exchange Organic Breakfast Blend Ground Coffee style (look for the whole bean version).

• Why it fits: Equal Exchange is a worker-owned cooperative dedicated to small-scale farmer co-ops. Their medium roasts emphasize a crisp, clean cup with gentle hints of milk chocolate and citrus without the heavy, oily sheen of darker commercial roasts.

• The Vibe: Approachable, clean, and smooth.

• Why it fits: Certified Fair Trade and organic, Peace Coffee roasts right on the lighter side of medium, preserving bright, sweet notes (like brown sugar and milk chocolate) while keeping the surface of the bean dry and matte. You can check it out directly via Peace Coffee.

• The Vibe: Single-origin, vibrant, and aromatic.

• Why it fits: Twiga Coffee specializes in organic, Fairtrade-certified whole beans. Because they pull their medium roasts precisely to highlight regional fruit and cocoa notes rather than heavy roast flavors, the beans remain smooth and grease-free in the bag.

If you have a preference for flavor notes (e.g., more chocolatey vs. more fruity/bright) or a specific brew method you're using (pour-over, drip, French press), let me know and I can pinpoint the absolute best match!

Yes — for Fair Trade + medium roast + beans that stay dry/non-oily, I’d narrow it to these:

My top picks

• Peace Coffee Organic Fair Trade Birchwood Blend Medium Roast - $13.99 (Target)

1. Peace Coffee Birchwood Blend — best overall

• Medium roast
• Fair Trade + organic
• Whole bean
• A good everyday choice if you want a traditional, balanced cup.
• It’s currently listed at about $16.99/12 oz.

2. Café Campesino Medium Roast — best if “NOT OILY” is your priority

This one is particularly compelling because the roaster explicitly describes its medium-roast beans as light brown with “no oil present on surface.” It is also Fair Trade and organic.

They offer several medium-roast origins, including Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Colombia, and their Benevolent Blend.

3. Colectivo Co-Optiva — good balanced option

• Terra Nova Fair Trade Organic - $16.37 (C4 Coffee)

Colectivo's Co-Optiva is a medium roast, Fair Trade Certified and USDA Organic, with caramel/dark-chocolate characteristics, and is currently around $15/12 oz at Target.

What I'd buy

If your main concern is beans that look dry rather than shiny/oily, I'd choose Café Campesino Medium Roast. Their own description specifically confirms no surface oil, which is much stronger evidence than simply assuming that a coffee labeled "medium roast" won't be oily.

If you'd like, I can also find 3–5 Fair Trade medium-roast beans that are specifically known for being dry-looking, chocolatey/smooth, and available at Amazon, Walmart, or local stores near you.

Yes — I’d focus on 100% Arabica, medium roast, Fair Trade-certified beans. Medium roasts generally stay much drier-looking than dark roasts because the surface oils are less likely to migrate out of the bean.

My top picks

Del's Coffee Fair Trade Falcon Blend

$16.00

Equal Exchange Mind Body & Soul

$13.82

Cafe Altura Classic Roast Fair Trade

$15.25

Fresh Roasted Coffee Organic Peru

$49.99

1. Del's Fair Trade Falcon Blend — my pick

• Medium roast
• Fair Trade and organic
• Whole bean
• Notes of almond, chocolate, caramel and stone fruit
• $16/12 oz in the current listing
  This is probably the best match if you want a conventional-looking, non-oily medium roast rather than something dark and shiny.

2. Equal Exchange Mind, Body & Soul

• Medium roast blend
• Fairly Traded + USDA Organic
• Whole bean
• Chocolate-forward, smooth/creamy profile
• About $13.82/12 oz in the current listing

3. Café Altura Classic Roast

• Medium roast
• Fairtrade-certified
• Balanced, rounded cup
• About $15.25/10 oz in the current listing

4. Fresh Roasted Coffee Organic Peru

• Medium roast
• Fair Trade + USDA Organic
• Whole bean
• Cinnamon, caramel and citrus notes
• Particularly good value if you don't mind buying 2 lb.

Another easy-to-find option is Ethical Bean Classic Medium Roast. The manufacturer confirms it's Fairtrade, organic, 100% Arabica and a true medium roast.

If “not oily” is your #1 priority: I'd choose Del's Falcon Blend or Ethical Bean Classic and avoid anything labeled medium-dark, espresso roast, or dark roast. Also, a freshly roasted medium bean can have a tiny bit of sheen; what you want to avoid is beans that look visibly glossy/wet.

If you'd like, I can also narrow this down to 3 Fair Trade medium-roast beans you can buy locally around Longmont/Boulder.

When looking for a medium roast that isn't oily, you're already on the right track: oils on coffee beans only typically emerge past the second crack (into dark roasts) or if a medium roast sits exposed to oxygen for a very long time . Freshly roasted whole-bean medium roasts naturally look matte and dry.

Here are top-tier, Fair Trade certified options that offer a clean, non-oily medium roast profile:

• Certifications: Fairtrade Certified, USDA Organic

• Profile: A balanced, smooth medium roast sourced from Indonesia, Central, and South America. It has a matte, dry whole-bean appearance with notes of sweet tobacco, cocoa, and dried fruit.

• Certifications: Fair Trade Certified, USDA Organic

• Profile: A signature blend with a smooth, non-oily finish. Features tasting notes of caramel, dark chocolate, and a subtle hint of citrus.

• Certifications: Fair Trade Certified, USDA Organic

• Profile: Single-origin Arabica beans from Peru roasted in small batches. It yields a mellow, smooth cup with sweet citrus and milk chocolate notes and a completely dry, non-shiny bean surface when fresh.

• Certifications: Fairtrade Certified, USDA Organic
• Profile: Known for a clean, transparent roasting process where you can even scan a QR code on the bag to trace the co-op of farmers who grew the beans. Their medium roasts maintain a non-oily, clean bean profile.

Would you prefer to buy these online , or should I look for specific options that are easy to find in local grocery stores near you?

A true medium roast will naturally stay dry and non-oily because the oils inside a coffee bean only break through to the surface during longer, darker roasts (typically medium-dark or dark/French roasts). Sticking to a certified Fair Trade medium roast guarantees that your beans will have a smooth, matte (non-oily) finish while supporting ethical smallholder farmer co-ops.

Here are top options that fit your criteria:

Lifeboost Medium Roast A velvety, well-balanced single-origin coffee from Nicaragua . It is 100% Fair Trade Certified, USDA organic, shade-grown, and features a clean, dry medium profile with rich chocolate and gentle citrus notes.

Add to listPeace Coffee Blue Ox Blend A signature medium roast from a mission-driven, 100% Fair Trade and organic roaster . It features a smooth, satin finish with sweet tasting notes of caramel, milk chocolate, and subtle citrus.

Add to listTwiga Coffee Ethiopia Sidamo Sourced from high-elevation Ethiopian highlands where beans dense up and roast into a crisp, non-oily medium profile . It carries distinct, clean tasting notes of bright berries, citrus, and floral aromatics under a Fair Trade certification.

Add to listLevel Ground Trading Peruvian Medium Roast A smooth, single-origin crowd-favorite that is Fair Trade certified and small-batch roasted . It provides a clean, matte bean exterior with a well-balanced profile of sweet citrus, milk chocolate, and toasted peanut.

If you have a preference, let me know:

• Do you prefer single-origin (like Peru or Ethiopia) or a blend?
• What brewing method do you use (pour-over, drip, espresso machine)?

I can narrow down the exact flavor notes to match your palate!

Yes — and “no oily surface” is a very good filter. For a medium roast, I’d prioritize coffees that explicitly describe the beans as dry/non-oily rather than just trusting the roast label.

My top picks

Fair Trade Falcon Blend

$16.00

1. Del’s Coffee Fair Trade Falcon Blend — my pick

• Medium roast
• Fair Trade and USDA Organic
• Almond, chocolate, caramel, stone-fruit profile
• Whole bean
• $16 for 12 oz
• A good choice if you want a classic, balanced medium roast rather than something dark or smoky.

Cafe Altura Classic Roast Fair Trade

$15.25

2. Café Altura Classic Roast

• Medium roast
• Fairtrade-certified
• Rounded, balanced flavor
• $15.25 for 10 oz
• Particularly appealing if you want something straightforward and not heavily roasted.

3. Café Campesino Medium Roast This is actually the strongest match for your “not oily” requirement. The roaster explicitly describes its medium roast as light brown beans with “no oil present on surface,” and says its coffees are Fair Trade and organic.

1790 Coffee Signature Roast

$15.99

4. 1790 Coffee Signature Roast

• Medium roast
• Fair Trade Certified
• 100% Arabica, single-origin Oaxaca, Mexico
• Milk chocolate, orange and graham-cracker notes
• $15.99 for 12 oz

If you want something easy to find locally

Peace Coffee Organic Fair Trade Birchwood Blend is another good candidate: it's a Fair Trade, organic medium-roast whole bean that Target currently lists at $16.99/12 oz.

My recommendation: Café Campesino Medium Roast if dry-looking, non-oily beans are your #1 priority; Del's Falcon Blend if you want the best combination of traditional medium-roast flavor and certifications.

If you tell me your preferred flavor (chocolate/nutty vs. fruity/bright) and brewing method (drip, espresso, French press, etc.), I can narrow it down to 2–3 excellent choices.

Absolutely. For Fair Trade + medium roast + visibly non-oily beans, I’d prioritize coffees that explicitly describe a clean/dry medium roast. Medium-roasted beans generally have little to no surface oil; Café Campesino, for example, explicitly says its medium roast beans are light brown with “no oil present on surface.”

My top picks

Café Altura Classic Roast Fair Trade

$15.25

Fair Trade Organic Five Country Blend - Medium

$18.45

Death Wish Organic & Fair Trade Medium Roast

$18.36

Kicking Horse Three Sisters Medium Roast

$39.60

Simply Nature Fair Trade Organic Honduran Medium Roast

$21.90

1. Café Altura Classic Roast — my best match.
It's explicitly a Fairtrade-certified medium roast, with a balanced, rounded profile. This is the kind I'd choose if you want traditional coffee flavor without shiny/oily beans.

2. Fair Trade Organic Five Country Blend — best if you like a brighter cup.
Fair Trade Certified + organic, medium roast, with medium body and some brightness.

3. Simply Nature Fair Trade Organic Honduran — good everyday choice.
100% Arabica, Fair Trade certified, organic, and medium roast.

4. Kicking Horse Three Sisters — good mainstream option.
Organic and Fairtrade, medium roast, and a very easy-drinking style.

One thing I'd avoid if oily beans bother you: anything labeled medium-dark, espresso roast, French roast, or Italian roast. Even within “medium,” roast development varies, so a freshly roasted medium bean can sometimes show a little oil.

If you tell me your brewing method (drip, Keurig, French press, espresso, etc.) and whether you like smooth/chocolatey vs. bright/fruity, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 beans for you.

For a certified fair trade, medium-roast whole bean coffee that maintains a dry, non-oily surface, excellent options include Ethical Bean Classic Medium RoastGo to product viewer dialog for this item. ($13 for 12oz), Peace Coffee Colombia Medium Roast Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ($18 for 12oz), and Twiga Coffee Rwanda Medium Roast Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (~$16 for 12oz). Because surface oils on coffee beans typically only emerge past the second crack during darker roasting profiles, high-quality medium roasts naturally retain a matte, non-greasy appearance ideal for standard drip pots and built-in bean grinders.

Top Fair Trade, Non-Oily Medium Roasts

• Ethical Bean Classic Medium Roast : 100% fair trade and organic, featuring an elegant, balanced acidity with a nuanced and smooth medium body.
• Peace Coffee Colombia Medium Roast Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Certified fair trade and organic single-origin option with smooth milk chocolate and sweet brown sugar notes roasted on the lighter side of medium.
• Twiga Coffee Rwanda Medium Roast : USDA Organic and Fairtrade certified whole bean with a clean, smooth finish and subtle caramel and red fruit undertones.

Would you like me to tailor these recommendations based on a specific brewing method (like a super-automatic espresso machine, pour-over, or drip maker) or a flavor profile (fruity vs. chocolaty)?