Producers
Colombia
La Cristalina
Alberto and German Grajales are coffee producers in Quindio, Colombia. They own a farm called "La Cristalina," which is located at an altitude of between 1.350 and 1.500 meters above sea level.
The Grajales brothers have been working with their local community for more than 50 years. They recognize their responsibility in preserving the surrounding nature, which includes more than 20 bird varieties and over 10 different types of fruit trees. They practice diverse farming, with their coffee plants sharing space with various types of trees and other crops. The farm is divided into medium-sized lots, which allows for easy traceability of the coffee and enables them to apply the best practices to each specific lot and measure its qualities.
Ethiopia
Arbegona Small Holders
Arbegona Small Holders coffee farm, located in the lush highlands of the Sidamo region of Southern Ethiopia, is a remarkable testament to both Ethiopia's rich coffee heritage and the power of small-scale farming. This farm, composed of a network of smallholder farmers, specializes in producing high-quality, organic Arabica coffee, using traditional and environmentally friendly farming techniques.
Arbegona Small Holders consists of over a thousand individual farms, each operating on plots of land typically less than a hectare in size. Nestled between 1700-2000 meters above sea level, the coffee plants enjoy a cool climate and ample rainfall, both of which are essential for nurturing the complex flavors found within the beans.
Additionally, the farm's cultivation methods play a crucial role in the coffee's quality. Unlike large-scale coffee plantations, Arbegona Small Holders utilize a shaded farming system where coffee shrubs are interspersed with other crops and native trees. This practice not only preserves biodiversity but also improves the health of the soil and reduces the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The farmers also handpick the coffee cherries, ensuring that only the ripest and most flavorful beans are harvested.
Uganda
Bakonzo
The magnificent Rwenzori Mountains, famously known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, stretch for 120km along Western Uganda and are home to the Bakonzo tribe. Bakonzo farmers work manually, with the help of the whole family, and traditionnally group together to process the cherries.
Many coffee farmers live high up on the slopes of the Rwenzori mountain range , which culminates at more than 5,000 masl. The higher the coffee grows, the more slowly it matures and the more complex the cup profiles are.
El Salvador
Finca La Esperanza
The Finca La Esperanza is located in Cantòn Las Cruces, Chalchuapa municipality in Santa Ana.
Coffee trees grown under the shade of Ingas and other native mountain trees such as eucalyptus, cedars and others. The forest serves as home of various types of plants and animals, contributing with the biodiversity in the area. This coffee is grown and selected by women of the region. The female producers in El Salvador were virtually invisible before the 2000s despite amounting to 35% of the producing force. Whereby, IWCA' intense schedule of activities is helping to make women more visible and respected in the country. People are paying attention. “We are doers. Our focus is to create and execute programs that will benefit coffee growers,” says Maria Pacas.