THE FARM: For the past five years, Asociación de Productores Cafetaleros de la Cuenca del Rio Marañón (APROCCURMA) has been working directly with 124 women producers to establish coffee production from farms owned and managed by women. A significant number of women in the northern highlands of the Rodríguez de Mendoza province rely on coffee income to support their families. They use organic practices to manage just a few acres of land intercropped with shade trees, bananas, corn, and beans. After carefully harvesting and sorting cherries, depulping, fermenting, washing, and drying is all done at the farm with micro-mills.

The cooperative carries out activities that often go unnoticed but are crucial for producers who have small farms. Investments for basic infrastructure needs, like road improvements, establishing local warehouses, and preparing coffee for export are all coordinated through APROCCURMA, which ensures traceability and quality control throughout the post-harvest process. APROCCURMA also provides women producers with financing, training, and technical assistance to improve coffee quality. The cooperative strives to improve the quality of life for coffee producers and their families through internationally marketing producers’ coffee to gain improved premiums based on a reputation for quality and certification.

This coffee is decaffeinated using only organic compounds, and no harsh chemicals, protecting the essence of the coffee. In water-processing, the green coffee is pre-soaked in water to expand the beans for caffeine extraction. The hydrated green coffee is then introduced to a unique solution of concentrated coffee solubles that draw out the caffeine while minimizing the loss of flavor compounds. Once the caffeine has been removed the green coffee is re-dried and re-bagged for transport, and the extract solution is filtered of its caffeine and recycled to be used again.

OUR ROAST: The dry fragrance has a smell of pomelo and maple syrup and the wet aromatics come together like a warm oatmeal raisin cookie. The cup flavors show a blend of cooked banana, raw hazelnut, and molasses, a lot like banana bread! As the coffee cools, hints of rose contrast the bittersweet core coffee flavors. Our deep roast also reveals a nice red cherry flavor wrapped in prominent chocolate bittersweetness. This full-body cup will also make for a great espresso!

*** All prices are per pound ***