Bolivia’s a pretty unusual coffee origin in the minds of most coffee drinkers. We don’t tend to see much of it here, and most of what we have tasted has been by way of our friends at Origin. As far as South American coffee producers go, Bolivia’s pretty inconspicuous, exporting substantially less green coffee each year than its neighbours — the entire country’s total production is less than that of one of Brazil’s larger plantations. 

That said, between its optimal climate, high growing altitudes, and rich soil (courtesy of the Andean mountain range), Bolivia offers perfect growing conditions for delicious Arabica coffee. Add to that the expertise and dedication of the country’s smallholder farmers (who are responsible for 95% of Bolivian coffee production) and you have some serious potential for top-quality specialty coffee. 

This particular coffee comes from the province of Carnavi, which is found in Yungas, a forested region lining the eastern side of the Andes mountain range. Most of Bolivia’s coffee is grown on small farms, some of which are situated at the highest altitudes among coffee farms globally, in Yungas. This lot is the result of the joint effort of numerous producers who form part of the Sol De Mañana program, essentially a coffee production business that trains up its workers to go on to farm their own coffee later on. You can read more about Sol de Mañana in Origin’s notes (via Covoya green coffee exporters) below. 

Sol de Mañana is managed and supported by Agricafe, Bolivia’s premier green coffee exporter. Founded and still owned by Bolivian coffee trailblazer Pedro Rodriguez, Agricafe works with around 500 different Bolivian coffee farms, sourcing high-quality microlots from them and bringing them to Buena Vista mill in Caranavi, shouldering the transport costs so farmers don’t have to. The company additionally supports its farmers and producers by providing them with cutting-edge educational resources and continually investing in their equipment. Agricafe’s core aim is to raise the standard for Bolivian coffee and earn it greater notoriety on the global stage.

Origin’s notes

• Flavour: Toffee, caramel, raisin, apple
• Body: Round, velvety
• Acidity: Smooth, juicy
• Roast: Medium
• Suggested brewing methods: AeroPress , siphon, espresso, milk-based drinks

Coffee details from Origin

• Country: Bolivia
• Region: La Paz, Caranavi
• Owners: numerous smallholder farmers who are part of the Sol De La Mañana
• Altitude: 1650 masl
• Variety: Catuai, Caturra
• Processing: Washed

“This smallholder selection is part of the Sol De La Mañana program run by Agricafe in Bolivia. The program is designed to work like a small school, and it takes 7 years for them to graduate. The producers are guided through every step of coffee farming, starting with the nursery, planting, harvesting, pest prevention, pruning as well as financial management. The idea is for them to learn best coffee practices and to be able to improve their lifestyle significantly, improving coffee cultivation in the country, and motivating others to go back to coffee farming. Currently the producers are initiating year 6, learning about pruning, which is a major and very significant part of coffee farming, producers never applied in traditional coffee farming."