While these days Peruvian coffee has garnered more attention in the specialty coffee scene, it is still significantly less famous than neighbouring Latin American coffee producers. This is largely a matter of quantity rather than quality though. While Peru exports substantially smaller volumes of coffee than places like Colombia and Brazil, it nevertheless consistently produces top-quality specialty lots year in and year out. 

The main reason for Peru’s lower-volume production is that its coffee farmers typically operate at smaller scales, lacking the infrastructure and resources necessary for mass production. Fortunately, coffee cooperatives throughout the country work to organise farmers and producers, provide them with resources and educational material that improve both their produce and quality of life, and connect them to the global market. Thanks to their efforts and those of specialty roasters like Quaffee, Peruvian coffee farmers can reliably make a living for themselves and share their passion for coffee with the world. 

This particular Peruvian coffee comes from Finca La Naranjilla, a farm committed to environmental sustainability as well as quality produce. The farm is located in a remote village in Colasay, one of twelve districts found in the province of Jaén, Cajamarca, a northern region of Peru that borders both the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Rainforest. With notes of blueberry, cacao and vanilla, it’s sure to be both exciting and familiar. 

Phaedon's tasting notes

Well, that's not what I was expecting! Here I go, opening up my bag, ready to enjoy a lovely specialty Peruvian lot, understandably expecting your quintessential nutty notes with caramel sweetness, and what do I get instead? Blueberries! That's what! Not just blueberries either... something slightly tropical in some cups, maybe even a bit of a cakey quality, a grippy acidity and maybe a grapefruit finish. I still can't quite believe it.

While I'm partial to Peruvian lots of the archetypal variety, what I love about this coffee is how much it challenges my preconceived notions of what a Peruvian specialty lot should taste like. This is something else, and it's quite wonderful.

Quaffee’s notes

• Taste profile: Cacao, blueberry, vanilla on the finish
• Roast used: Mild soak with flame all the way to first crack, where the flame is removed and the coffee coasts through development for 35 seconds.
• Roast degree: Light
• Quaffee brews:
  • Espresso: 1:2.15 (26 sec)
  • AeroPress: 17g:200g (fine grind)
  • Plunger: 48g:800g
  • Pour-over/filter: 18g:300g

Coffee details from Quaffee

• Country: Peru
• Region: Cajamarca
• District: Colasay
• Village: La Palma
• Farm: Finca La Naranjilla
• Producer: Felipe Marin
• Altitude: 1800 - 2000 masl
• Processing: Natural, sun-dried
• Variety: Marshell

Quaffee’s transparency information

• Sourced from: Falcon/And Sons
• FOB price: $10.48/kg (logistics est ~R35/kg)
• Cupping score: 85.75 (And Sons); 83.25 (Quaffee)
• Lot size bought: 1 x 69kg bag, possibly one more booked
• Relationship: Quaffee has been purchasing coffee from Falcon (via And Sons) since 2016, and has a direct relationship with Felipe Marin.

“Peru has quietly emerged as a leading origin in the specialty coffee industry. Its unique geography, diverse growing regions, and commitment to sustainable practices make Peruvian coffee a great choice for discerning coffee lovers.

“The first reference to coffee cultivation in Peru dates back to the 18th century, with Chinchao in the Huanuco region being the initial coffee-growing territory. Over time, coffee spread from the Andes mountains to the Amazon basin, covering up to 15 regions. Today, Peruvian coffee is produced on 233,000 hectares, with Junin, Amazonas, Cajamarca, and San Martin being key production areas.

“Peruvian coffee owes its exceptional quality to the microclimates, diverse soils, and varying altitudes found across the country. Moreover, Peru is the world’s largest exporter of fair trade coffees. Small family farms, often no larger than 3 hectares, form cooperatives to ensure fair pay for farmers. Additionally, there’s a growing focus on fair wages for women’s cooperatives, making Peruvian coffee a socially responsible choice.”