Category: COFFEE VILLAGES

Read about the positive impact happening around the globe with each cup of coffee consumed.

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Peruvian Coffee: In a World of Its Own for Week

Peruvian Coffee: In a World of Its Own for Week

There are two qualities that make Peruvian coffee stand out: the remote, high-altitude location where it grows and the collective work of the farmers who have turned the country into the world s foremost producer of organic coffee. Still, many people don’t think of Peru when they’re in the market for coffee. With a neighbor like Brazil, the world’s top coffee exporter, it’s easy to understand why it sometimes gets overshadowed. For those seeking outstanding coffee that is safe for growers and the environment, though, it will soon become a favorite.

The processing of coffee production in Peru starts with coffee cherries being handpicked off the plants. This is very labor intensive, but it makes it easier to spot ripe ones, and this is a very important step in getting high-quality beans. Through pulping, the outer layer is removed from the bean, and the bean goes through a short self-created fermentation period. The bean is then washed and allowed to dry, either naturally or via a machine until only 10-12% of its moisture remains. The beans have to be carefully stored after this to ensure that they retain their quality.

A Taste of Peru

Generally, Peruvian coffee has a light to medium body, which some drinkers compare to 2% milk because it isn’t heavy but also isn’t lacking taste. It’s also aromatic and incredibly flavorful. Because of its mildness, it’s perfect for blending but the sweet, nutty taste also means it can be savored on its own.

Coffee-Growing Regions in Peru

Peru grows its Arabica beans in the Northern, Central and Southern regions of the country, along the forested eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. There are three main coffee-producing areas: Chanchamayo in the central highlands, which accounts for 28% of total production, Amazonas and San Martin of the northern highlands, which make up 49% of total production, and Puno, Cusco, and Ayacucho in the southern highlands, where 23% of production occurs, according to a report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Three-fourths of the coffee grown in the country takes place between 3,280 and 5,905 feet above sea level. Coffee is Peru’s top agricultural export.

The majority of the coffee growers in Peru are small farmers, and the average farm is only about 3 hectares (almost 7 and ½ acres). Many of these farmers participate in fair-trade cooperatives, and through these groups they have been able to create a sustainable agricultural market, negotiate competitive prices, improve the quality of their products, and get more access to the international market. By one estimate, 15-25% of the more than 100,000 small farmers have joined a cooperative. Some associations can have around 2,000 members and more than 7000 hectares (more than 17,000 acres) under its branch. In fact, Peruvian small-farmer cooperatives became the second largest supplier of certified fair-trade coffee after Mexico. Of Peru’s 21 largest coffee exporters, 4 of them are fair-trade associations. How’s that for teamwork?

A Peruvian Coffee Profile You Are Sure to Enjoy

Camano Island Coffee Roasters sells Peruvian coffee in dark and light roasts. Our dark roast is for the coffee drinker who likes just a hint of sweetness but wants a robust smoky or charred flavor in their Java. The light roast will have a bit of the original, natural flavor of the bean, which is a toasted, grainy taste. Because our beans are 100% shade-grown Arabica beans, they’re low in acidity and never cause heartburn or acid reflux.

A Coffee Company Developed With You in Mind

At Camano Island Coffee Roasters, we know that getting the coffee you want just the way you prefer it is important to you, so we provide a variety of shade-grown, organic flavors from Peru and beyond. Do not forget to try our commitment-free Coffee Lover’s Club, and stock up on your favorite flavors at the shipping frequency that is right for you, or give the subscription as a gift to the coffee aficionado in your life.

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Brazilian Coffee: World Renowned and Distinctive

Brazilian Coffee: World Renowned and Distinctive

It is impossible to discuss coffee without bringing up Brazil. The South American country is just as well-known globally for coffee production as it is for the beautiful beaches along its coast. Coffee’s rich history in Brazil has even become legend. Back in 1727, Lt. Col. Francisco de Mello Palheta, who was sent by the Portuguese Government to French Guiana under the ruse of settling a border dispute, smuggled coffee plants out and brought them back to his home in Brazil. By 1800, coffee had spread throughout the country. For more than a century, Brazil has been the world’s largest coffee producer and is responsible for a third of all coffee production.

Most of the coffee beans in Brazil are processed using the dry (natural) method, due to the country’s favorable climate of a long dry season; although, the wet-process and pulp-natural methods are also used. During the dry process, the coffee cherries are picked — either mechanically or manually — and placed in the sun for a very long time to dry. The cherries will eventually turn dark brown, and the pods will harden. Then, the green bean is removed. According to Coffeeresearch.org, this is a delicate process and leaves some room for error, like fermentation, but Brazil has in essence perfected it.

Flavors of Brazilian Coffee

Processing plays a huge role in flavor, and dry-processing gives the coffee a very distinctive taste that for which Brazilian coffee is known. Across the country, coffee is usually heavy, fruity and complex, with a bit of spice. This is because the bean dries while still connected to the fruit. Some regions do produce medium-bodied coffees, too.

Coffee-Growing Regions of the Country

Brazil produces both Arabica and Robusta beans, but mostly Arabica. Coffee is grown across many distinct regions in these seven states: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Rio De Janeiro, São Paulo, Parana and Rondonia. Although, according to Coffeereview.com, there are three main regions that produce Brazil’s best coffee: Mogiana, Sul Minas, and Cerrado de Minas.

Mogiana, an area near São Paulo and Minas Gerais, has mountains and rolling hills. It has a lot of small and medium-sized farms, and coffee from here will suit those that like sweet, heavy body-tasting flavors. The Sul Minas region, which is in Minas Gerais, produces the most coffee in all of Brazil. It’s also very mountainous and has a mild climate, which makes it great for farming. Coffee from Sul Minas is medium-bodied and sweet. Cerrado, which is also in Minas Gerais, has a tropical climate — hot, rainy summers and dry winters — and plateaus make up the terrain. The coffee from this region is heavy-bodied and sweet, and the region tends to yield high-quality coffee that enthusiasts praise. Almost half of the production in the country occurs in Minas Gerais. Coffee lovers would surely enjoy visiting this place.

A Brazilian Coffee Profile To Suit All Tastes

Camano Island Coffee Roasters sells Brazilian coffee in medium and dark roasts. Medium roast is very sweet and has some undertones of chocolate or caramel. The dark roast will have a smokier taste. All of our beans are low in acid, which prevents heartburn and acid reflux. No matter which roast you choose, though, you can expect a top-quality coffee flavor that you will love. Join our Coffee Lover’s Club and never run out of your favorite.

An Ethical and Environmentally-Friendly Treat

Here at Camano Island Coffee Roasters we put so much good into our coffee. Our shade-grown organic coffee is free of pesticides and the result of fair trade, so you can enjoy it knowing that you’re not just getting the healthy benefits that coffee provides, but you’re also supporting the people and places behind it.

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Indonesian Coffee: Escape To a Different World of Flavor

Indonesian Coffee: Escape to a Different World of Flavor

The many microclimates and different elevations in Indonesia produce coffee that is highly renowned. With a production level of 540,000 metric tons in 2014, according to the International Coffee Association, Indonesia is the 4th largest producer of coffee in the world. The coffee industry in Indonesia is largely comprised of smaller operations resulting in more than 2 million growers.

History of Coffee in Indonesia

Coffee was introduced to Indonesia by Dutch traders in Batavia. When it became obvious that coffee thrived in the climate and soil of Batavia, they expanded plantings to other areas such as West Java before continuing with plantings in Sumatra and Sulawesi. With over 1.3 million hectares in production, many people around the world pour a delicious cup of Indonesian coffee every morning.

Sumatra

Out of all the Indonesian islands, Sumatra is the top producer of Coffea robusta coffee beans. Sumatra grows half of all the coffee in Indonesia and ¾ of the entire production of Coffea robusta. The coffee farms of Sumatra are very small. The average holding is about a hectare, so there are many private individuals involved in the production of coffee in the region. Sumatra is also known for its unique method of processing raw coffee beans known as wet hulling. Beans are hulled, but the pulp surrounding the bean is left on for about a day. The beans are then washed and allowed to dry, but only until they reach 30% moisture. This process is completed entirely on the farm.

Camano Island Coffee Roasters offers both a medium and dark roast from Sumatra.

Flores Island

Flores Island has some very rugged terrain characterized by volcanic activity. The farms are located on the hillsides and plateaus. This area is known for being fantastic for organic coffee production due to the volcanic soils. High altitudes of up to 1,800 meters produce coffee that is known for having a unique chocolate, yet floral flavor.

Kopi Luwak

One of the rarest coffees in the world is produced in Indonesia by a very unusual method. The Asian Palm Civet eats the ripe berries that contain coffee beans. When the beans pass through the digestive track of the Civet, the outer layers of the beans are no longer there. After being washed and dried, this rare coffee sells for astronomical prices due to its unique flavor. The theory is that passing through the digestive tract removes potassium salts that affect the flavor.

Beautiful green landscape of mount volcano Agung on Bali island, Indonesia.

Supporting Small Farmers

The coffee industry is extremely important to the people of Indonesia. Coffee is grown in remote areas and provides a way for small farmers to make a good living for their families. Organically produced and fair trade coffee production ensures that farmers get paid a fair price for their labor and product. Choosing organic means you are helping promote the rights of indigenous farmers throughout Indonesia.

Unethical Coffee Hurts the Environment

Unfortunately, not all coffee is produced in a sustainable manner. Destruction of rainforest and slash and burn agricultural techniques results in habitat depletion, extinct species, and poor quality coffee. Coffee that is grown under these conditions is usually only sold as bulk coffee that shows up in cheaper blends or instant coffee. Farmers that fall victim to these systems get low prices for their coffee and deplete their land.

Initiatives

A lot of research has been done to improve the production of coffee in Indonesia. Since the plantations are small it can be a challenge to reach out to small farmers. The Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute is dedicated to helping farmers learn how to make the most of their land and improve fields. Their work also includes developing more disease-resistant varieties and techniques for reducing disease.

Camano Island Indonesian Blend

At Camano Island Coffee, we take the finest beans from Sumatra and Papua New Guinea and roast them to perfection to create our signature Indonesian Blend. With a taste of toasted nuts and malt, we are sure you will love this coffee and hope you will share it with your friends and family. Join our Coffee Club for the best deals on organic coffee online. All first time members qualify for a free pound of our organically produced and fairly traded coffee. Try us today and taste the difference quality practices and pride can make in your daily cup.

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Honduras: A Range Of Flavor

Honduras: A Range of Flavor

In 2011, Honduras climbed to the top of coffee production in Central America. This is no small feat considering the challenges that coffee growers have faced. While coffee has been grown here since the 1800s, the industry struggled due to export issues and political problems. A lack of good shipping methods meant that most of the coffee produced was sold as locally as possible, thus commanding a lower price.

Time Investment

A typical coffee plantation in Honduras would take four years to reach a good level of production and up to seven years before it achieves good returns. Having to invest so much time and money into a plantation before seeing a return makes it hard for many to get started. In 1984, only 10% of the coffee produced was being sold outside of Honduras, highlighting the fact that lack of access to shipping and exports was still an issue fairly recently.

Coffee Tourism

There is no doubt that Honduras is a beautiful country. Many of the coffee farms offer tours and welcome guests to see how and where their coffee is produced. The highest quality Honduran coffees are grown under the shade of trees such as bananas, which provide a secondary crop for the farmer to sell. Shade-grown coffees are renowned for having a better flavor and being lower in acids, resulting in a more pleasant experience for drinkers.

A Better Economy

Honduras has struggled with its economy throughout history. The increase in coffee production and availability of shipping has allowed it to grow to be the largest producer in Central America. This injection of money has shown with an increased standard of living for more of the working class. Tourism has increased as coffee has caused more people to become aware of Honduras and all it has to offer. Better opportunities for disadvantaged people are being created thanks to informed consumers choosing fairly traded, organic coffee from Honduras.

Taste That Is In Demand

The finest Honduran coffees are sweet and mild so they make a good cup for drinking throughout the day. The dark rich soil of the rainforest is loaded with nutrients from the naturally decaying vegetation that grows below and above the coffee. Fertilizer isn’t necessary to grow great coffee, and if it is needed, only natural fertilizer is used. This makes Honduran coffee a great choice for those that seek organically produced coffees from sustainable farms.

Camano Island Coffee Roasters Honduras Roasts

Camano Island Coffee Roasters is offering shade grown and fairly traded organic Honduran coffee beans. These beans are used in our signature dark roast, as well as our highly popular Central American Blend, which combines our best beans from the region for a blend we are sure will become a favorite in your home or business. Dark Roasted Honduran coffee beans have flavors of molasses and spice making it a great coffee for fall or winter. Lovers of chai tea will also enjoy this unique coffee. Our Central American Blend is fruity and chocolatey, so you will want to enjoy this blend any time you want to indulge.

We want everyone to be able to enjoy our wonderful coffees no matter where they live. Our coffee club offers the best coffee online with convenient shipments to your home or business. Check out our Coffee Lovers Club for details and choose the shipment size and delivery schedule that is right for you.

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Where does your coffee come from? – Papua New Guinea

Where Does Your Coffee Come From? – Papua New Guinea

Ever wonder where your coffee comes from? At Camano Island Coffee Roasters, we love our Papua New Guinea Light and Medium roasts, and we also love the beautiful island nation just north of Australia.

Papua New Guinea coffee plantations were first planted 120 years ago. Historical records attribute the arrival of coffee to New Guinea as a result of German settlers bringing the crop to the island. By 1899, Arabica coffee bushes were showing that they liked the unique climate of New Guinea. However, the industry did not start picking up momentum until the 1920’s, when improvements in shipping contributed to coffee more easily being exported. Now Papua New Guinea has coffee plantations in 15 out of 19 provinces, and coffee export is one of the nation’s strongest industries.

Arabica and Robusta Coffee

At least 95% of the coffee grown in New Guinea is of the Arabica variety. Grown at high elevations, this coffee is of very high quality. The small amount of Robusta produced in New Guinea is grown in the Sepik lowlands and around Milne Bay. Most of the coffee exported is in the form of unroasted, green beans. Only 1% of the coffee exported is already roasted and ground. This is because green coffee keeps better for shipment than those that have already been roasted. Once coffee is roasted it should be enjoyed soon (that’s why we get the coffee so quickly to our Coffee Club members.)

Coffee Provinces of New Guinea

New Guinea coffee growing regions are split into three distinct provinces with each being home to 2-6 coffee grower groups. The provinces are the Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, and Simbu. With more than 210,000 hectares of coffee bushes, there are a lot of great coffees being produced in New Guinea.

Production by Province and Secondary Crops

The Western Highlands has the highest level of coffee production followed closely by the Eastern Highlands. Simbu grows more Robusta beans and has less production. While coffee beans are by far the biggest cash crop, farmers also grow sweet potatoes, bananas, vegetables, and spices for local consumption. Banana trees are often what shade coffee bushes, so they make a great choice for a secondary crop for their food value mostly because bananas do not command a high price.

Striving For Sustainable and Organic Practices

New Guinea coffee growers have observed that there is a high demand for quality shade grown coffees. Although New Guinea only produces 1% of the world’s coffee production, consumers are demanding more coffee choices. With more people than ever realizing what an impact they can have on the environment with their purchasing and consumption habits, the demand for fair trade coffee grown in a sustainable manner is growing drastically every day. Farmers are making efforts to double production due the increased demand for coffee grown in the best possible way.

Profiles in Flavor

Camano Island Coffee Roasters Medium Roast Papua New Guinea coffee is medium bodied with chocolate undertones. A sweet flavor and crisp, clean finish make this a great choice any time of the day or night. In fact, this roast is one of our customers’ favorites! For those that wish for a more subtle flavor, we offer this coffee in a light roast as well.

New Guinea Coffee for Your Home or Business

Purchasing Organic Free Trade New Guinea coffee helps farmers earn a good living for their families. If you have a business, consider adding New Guinea coffee to your waiting and staff rooms. Restaurants near business districts can lose business if they don’t have great coffee. Camano Island Coffee Roasters can arrange for a regular coffee subscription of delicious New Guinea coffee as well as our other great varieties. With our automatic shipment plans, you can be assured that you never run out of your favorites. At Camano Island Roasters, we believe in giving back to the farmers we buy our coffee from. That is why part of every Coffee Lovers Club shipment goes to help coffee farmers obtain interest-free loans and the support they need to own their land so they can make sustainable decisions without corporate influence.

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Where does Sumatran Coffee come from?

Where Does Sumatran Coffee Come From?

When Sumatra is mentioned many people have to think for a minute to realize where it is — if they know at all.  Sumatra is located in Indonesia, and is part of the Sunda Islands. In Sanskrit, Sumatra means “Island of Gold,” so it should come as no surprise to you that Sumatran farmers grow truly exceptional, world-class coffee, worth its weight in the mineral from which the island takes its name.

Perfect for Medium to Darker Roasts

Coffee growers in Sumatra use a unique method of processing their coffee known as wet hauling. This means that coffee has a higher than average moisture content when it is bagged and exported to its destination. The process of wet hulling also known as Giling Basah. Growers remove the outer layer of the coffee but leave the wet pulp. The coffee beans are allowed to rest for one day with the pulp on them, before they are washed and dried until all beans have a 30-35% moisture level. This is much higher than coffee from most other regions.

Because of this unique process, the flavor profile of Sumatran coffee is well suited to darker roasts. Those that enjoy the unique coffee of Sumatra describe it as earthy, with very low acidity. Low acid coffee is great for people who find stronger blends too harsh on their stomachs, and with its signature nutty sweetness, Sumatran coffee can be enjoyed both at breakfast, and after dinner. Coffeeresearch.org describes this coffee as one of the heartiest and most complex blends in the world, making it a must for every bean enthusiast.

Sumatra Regions

The coffee growing area of Sumatra is divided into two distinct regions. The District of Lintong Nihuta is known for growing its coffee on a large plateau. Sidikilang is an adjoining region that produces Arabica coffee beans as well, although not in as high a volume as Lintong.

Lintong is home to Lake Toba, a very deep natural lake located in the crater of a super volcano that last erupted about 70,000 years ago. Imagine drinking coffee farmed from 70,000-year-old volcanic ash! Gayo is located near Lake Tawar and produces some superb high elevation, shade-grown coffee, cultivated at heights of an outstanding 3300-4800 feet. Most coffee producers in Gayo are small holders, too. All Sumatran coffee is usually processed on the farm, which shows in the quality of the final product. Larger estates use mechanical means of picking coffee, whereas small holders pick by hand. Hand-picked coffee is considered of higher quality because farmers can afford better attention to detail and sorting practices.

Camano Island Coffee Roasters’ Sumatran coffee is double picked, which means it is hand sorted 3 times to find defects. That is why we are able to say that our roasts are grade 1 quality – the highest quality available.

Adding Sumatran Coffee To Your Home

Camano Island Roasters produces Sumatra coffee in a dark or medium roast. The dark roast is described as rich and complex by coffee aficionados while the medium roast has a distinctly fruity complexity.  Sumatra coffee makes a great unique gift for a fellow coffee lover who likes to try new things, or just a gourmet addition to your everyday routine.

Supporting Sustainable Agriculture

Coffee helps those living in rural areas to cultivate a crop that thrives through sustainable agricultural methods. Fair-trade Sumatran coffee creates an economy where workers receive a living wage, under their own steam. Sumatra has many small coffee farms, meaning that farmers are very involved in the production of quality coffee because they can dedicate a lot of attention to a small holding.

When you purchase Sumatran coffees from the Camano Island Coffee Roasters, you are buying one of the best coffees online while supporting sustainable agriculture in Sumatra. All of our coffees are fair trade, meaning that we purchased the beans for a price that is fair to the farmer that worked so hard to get it to you. Camano Island Roasters is always checking in on the origin of the coffees we sell to make sure that we are buying coffee that is produced sustainably and with high quality in mind.

When you try one roast style, you will want to try the others — what can we say? Drinking Sumatran coffee is like drinking liquid gold.

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Establishing Generational Change in Honduras

Establishing Generational Change in Honduras

In the rural hills of Northwestern Honduras, generational change has become a reality for the Agros villagers. The town of Bella Vista is an evolving success story, bringing prosperity to its people through transformational coffee purchasing. Although this region has experienced hardship, fathers and mothers no longer worry about their children’s future.

Bella Vista, A Community Of Hope

In 2013 alone, 31 families harvested 28,700 pounds of coffee! These villagers have transformed this rural area. In the past, Bella Vista experienced little job growth, unavailable natural resources and limited education. An area once hit by terrible droughts, killing livestock and causing water shortages, now has access to water. With the help of Agros volunteers, 12 water troughs have been placed in the area and livestock have become healthy. Parents can send their sons and daughters to grade school and college. Land ownership, once a dream for most, now is a reality in the Bella Vista community.

Luis & Hilaria Pineda’s Story

If you can imagine traveling 2 hours a day by foot, from a nearby town in hopes to earn a better life, you have imagined yourself in Luis Pineda’s shoes. For over two years he made that tiring journey, while participating in workshop activities and learning to cultivate the land. During this time, he worked as a day laborer growing grain crops in his hometown. He could only rent the property, however, with no opportunity to own. Then Agros arrived and gave him the tools to change everything.

He and his wife Hilaria moved with their two sons, Jose Luis and Nelson, to Bella Vista. He signed a bank loan through Agros and started cultivating his land. As of 2013 he owns 1.72 acres of coffee production and an additional 1.72 acres in corn production. Both commodities are in high demand and his land is prospering greatly. Luis and Hilaria also own a cow now as part of their estate. The years of hard work have begun to pay off and change their lives forever.

Through repaying his credit loan to Agros, Luis and Hilaria are on the direct path of becoming first generation landowners. Luis shares his gratitude, “I am happy because I have my house, my land to work and all the opportunities Agros offers us. Many thanks!” With a little opportunity and hard work Luis has been able to change his family’s fortunes.

Looking To The Future

Luis and Hilaria no longer worry about their children’s future. “Our dream is to pay the land, so that our kids can later inherit it. It will be their most precious treasure,” said Luis.

And it’s not just their children who are reaping the benefits of Luis and Hilaria’s hard work. During these last couple years, Luis has become a model of perseverance in the Bella Vista community. “Luis is a leader who has earned the respect of colleagues for his humility and sincerity,” said Esmel, the president of the community.

Luis and Hilaria are just one example of 31 families in Bella Vista whose lives have been changed forever, thanks to coffee lovers like you who choose to support Agros with your coffee purchase.