Why do we love it?
We're really proud to support AMACA (Asociación de Mujeres Productoras Agropecuarias del Cauca). This is a group of 140 smallholder producers, all women farm owners and heads of household - and their coffees are fantastic. All of the members derive their livelihood from coffee production. The average farm size is around 5,000 trees per member. Their mantra is simple: to improve the quality of life for their members and their members’ families.
A premium is paid to AMACA above the value of the coffee itself to support their goals and aspirations as a group. We believe the wonderful flavour of coffee they produce is more than worth the little extra we pay for their beans.
Currently, one of their most pressing needs is a warehouse space to properly receive, cup, manage, and store their coffees. We believe these premiums can help them to accomplish these goals and in turn, support this passionate and strong-willed group of women in their love for and livelihood of quality coffee.
The consistent high quality produced by the AMACA members brings a wonderful lightness and fruity acidity to the coffee. This is balanced out with dark chocolate and citrus notes that make it very versatile. We roast the Colombian beans slightly lighter to make our MOVE and CREATE blends
The Region
El Tambo is a municipality in the Cauca department of Colombia, known for producing high-quality coffee beans.
The coffee from El Tambo is grown at high altitudes, typically between 1,500 and 1,800 metres above sea level, which allows the coffee plants to develop slowly and produce dense, flavorful beans. The region's soil is also rich in volcanic minerals, which contributes to the coffee's unique flavour profile.
Coffee from El Tambo is known for its fruity and floral flavour notes, with hints of berries, citrus, and chocolate. The coffee has a bright acidity and a medium body, making it well-suited for a range of brewing methods, from pour-over to espresso.
How is it produced?
The coffee beans from El Tambo are typically harvested by hand and then washed and sun-dried. The processing method used in El Tambo is known as the "wet" or "washed" process, which involves removing the outer layers of the coffee cherry before drying the beans.
Many of the coffee farmers in El Tambo are smallholder farmers who grow coffee as their primary source of income. To support these farmers and promote sustainable and ethical coffee production in the region, several organisations have been established, including cooperatives and certification programs such as Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance. These programs help to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their coffee and have access to resources and training to improve the quality of their crops.