Espresso Italiano

Country: Mexico, Indonesia, Colombia
Producer: Ek Balam Productores del Jaguar, KSU Gayo Mandiri, Santander Kachalú
Altitude: 950-2000 Meters
Cultivar: Various
Process: Fully washed
Certification: Organic & Non-GMO

Ek-Balam - Ek-Balam Productores del Jaguar S.C. DE R. L. de C.V. (Ek-Balam) was formed in 2019 with 399 members. The vast majority of producers have indigenous roots and continue to speak a native language. Nearly one third of these growers are women who depend on income from coffee to support their families. They cultivate coffee on farms that average just a few acres in size, small enough for each producer to process their own coffee with their own micro-mill. Ek-Balam provides crucial support to small producers. In particular, the association has helped producers gain access to credit and certifications. Investments for basic infrastructure needs, like road improvements, establishing local warehouses, and operating a dry-mill facility are all coordinated through Ek-Balam, which ensures traceability and quality control throughout the post-harvest process. Their collective efforts have established higher prices and more producer income to support best agricultural practices and improve livelihoods.

KSU Gayo Mandiri - SUMATRA ORGANIC BENER MERIAH MANDHELING GRADE 1 is sourced from family-owned farms organized around the KSU Gayo Mandiri cooperative located in the Bener Meriah regency within the Aceh district, on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. KSU Gayo Mandiri was founded in 2008 and currently has 1218 members. On average, producers cultivate coffee on 2.5 acres of land using their own micro-mills to depulp and dry coffee. The cooperative hosts regular trainings on best agricultural practices to assist small producers with their organic certification while improving the quality of their coffee. KSU Gayo Mandiri also invest premiums generated from certifications in roads to help producers overcome problems transporting their coffee. The cooperative also recently purchased an ambulance to improve access to emergency healthcare.

Santander Kachalú - Cultivated in the mountainous Andes blanketed with natural forest, it's no surprise that the Colombia Organic Kachalu has been recognized by the Rainforest Alliance Awards for the last 4 years as one of their top five certified coffees. Kachalu is a tight-knit group with 110 producers cultivating coffee on farms that average 25 acres in size. Small enough for each producer in the group to manage their own micro-mill where meticulous care in cherry selection, depulping, fermenting, and drying coffee takes place. The Kachalu group is very experience, having worked directly with the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC) for more than two decades to gain better access to technical support for best agricultural practices. In addition to marketing coffee internationally, the FNC provides producers with financing, training, and technical assistance to improve coffee quality. The FNC also strives to improve the quality of life for coffee producers and their families through projects promoting income diversification and education.