Bolivien Pacamara - washed

Cup profile: 
Plum, stone fruit, caramel, pineapple, gooseberry

Key Facts: 
Feliza Huanca, Calama, Caranavi Region
Variety: Pacamara
washed, 1650 m 

About the coffee: 
Many of you have asked us about Bolivia time and again... we get it :) We’ve promised so many times to keep our eyes open and seize the opportunity when it comes along—and now it’s here. And how!

For the first time, we have a washed Pacamara from Bolivia in our selection. What does it bring? A wonderful mix of fruit, well-integrated acidity, and a balanced body. A coffee that delighted us from the first moment at our first cupping and stands out from the crowd for its quality.

The Caranavi region it comes from has already brought us some wonderful lots. Here, more precisely in Calama, Feliza Huanca lives and works with her family. What makes this so special? Two things: First, they work not only with the varieties common to the region, such as Catuai, Caturra, and Castillo, but also grow Geisha, Java, and Pacamara.

Second, they manage their farm according to agroforestry principles. That means the coffee plants grow among native trees and shrubs, and a full hectare of their land is preserved as natural vegetation. The benefits of this mixed-use approach are clear: The coffee plants get the right combination of shade and sunlight, while the soil benefits from the diverse plantings. The farm strictly avoids synthetic pesticides.

“This is how we do our part for our planet,” says Feliza. We really admire this commitment.

There’s one more thing we love about this lot: Feliza carefully chooses her partners. And in this case, that’s meant quite literally: From the farm to processing to export, this coffee passes through the hands of women.

Although women at origin do a large share of the work in the specialty sector, positions of responsibility and decision-making are still often reserved for men. That’s not the case here—and we think their success speaks for itself!