Colombia Estate Coffee
From the Timaná Co-operative, Huila.
From the Abahuzamugambi Ba Kawa Co-operative, Kizzi.
In recent years the quality of Colombia coffee had deteriorated - until now! Small producers have emerged from under the wing of the National Coffee Federation to offer exceptional coffees.
Timaná was formed in 2001 when families of coffee producers in Huila joined forces to create a co-operative, to improve the quality of their coffee and work towards the principles of environmental sustainability.
The coffee is 'shade-grown' in forest-like plantations providing a habitat for indigenous and migratory birds as well as preventing soil erosion and improving water conservation.
The coffee is extremely well balanced and clean with a leading edge of citrus zest and a sweet chocolate rounded body. Timaná also has a gentle red wine after-note, so lacking in much of today’s Colombian coffees. Smooth and elegant for all day easy drinking or after dinner relaxing.
The Coffee Farm
The quality of coffee from Colombia has suffered in recent years, but recent changes to the country’s national structure have allowed small producer co-operatives to emerge from underneath the national coffee Federation’s wings and offer exceptional coffee on a direct basis. It is from such origins that the Timaná farmers have emerged. One afternoon in August 2001, 25 coffee farmers and their families from the Huila district met to discuss their possible options to survive the ensuing - and continuing - world coffee crisis. The low prices they were receiving from local agents for the national coffee board were forcing them to eat into their savings. Very soon they would all be out of business.
From this discussion, the farmers decided to join forces and create a Co-operative so they could work together to improve the quality of their coffee. They hoped this would open doors to new opportunities in the market and a better future. The result has been an undoubted success.
Today, the co-operative - Asociation de Productores Agricoles de Timaná - has expanded to 90 families and continues to work on its founding principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability and, fundamentally, absolute quality-led production. We pay a premium for their Timaná Coffee which is an incentive to maintain and improve coffee quality.
The farmers work with a trained agronomist to focus on the best growing and processing methods. Our premium provides the families with a better quality of life and is used to fund local schools and hospitals. The environmental care is based on two principles: Protecting the natural habitat and introducing environmentally-friendly processing methods. Up to 80% of the coffee trees are 'shade grown' creating a sound, forest like habitat for migratory birds and other animals, while also preventing soil erosion and improves water conservation.
For processing, the co-operative uses the pulped coffee cherries as organic compost which reduces the requirement for fertilizers and avoids water contamination.