Colombia - Cauca (Women Producers)

CHOCOLATE, APPLE, SAVORY, CITRUS

Process: Washed
Origin: Colombia
Region: Cauca
Elevation: 1400 M-2000M
Farm/Producer: Hambela
Variety: Castillo, Colombia
Harvest Schedule: May-August

Retail 10oz. Price: $15.16

Importer Notes

Cauca is in central-western Colombia, stretching from the Western Cordillera mountain range to the Pacific Ocean. Ocean winds and elevation result in Cauca being one of the coolest regions of the country. The coffee in this area is grown mostly by indigenous or Afro-descendant communities. Geographically, the region has many features including the Popayan Plateau, many rivers, and the central volcanic mountain range.

In attempt to recognize and promote the work women do growing and producing coffee around the world, the Women Coffee Producers project was established in order to highlight organizations and associations of women producers in various countries. The program aims to address the widespread wage inequity that women experience by adding a gender-equity premium on top of a Regional Select base price; this premium is paid directly to the growers for use in any manner they choose.

Colombia is best-known for its Washed coffees. While the processing details might vary slightly from farm to farm or by association, generally the coffee is picked ripe and depulped the same day, then given an open-air fermentation in tanks or buckets for anywhere between 12–36 hours. The coffee is washed clean of its mucilage before being dried either on patios, in parabolic dryers, solar driers, or mechanically. Some Washed coffees in Colombia are mechanically demucilaged.