BOLIVIA
This is a wild and fascinating frontier for coffee crossing otherworldly terrain deep into the Caranavi mountain jungle where indigenous Aymara producers migrated to grow coffee.
Profiles here are unlike anywhere else with long, sweet and round profiles that cup great and drink even better. We see a glimmer of that Santa Barbara magic in these small mountain communities. They can also show floral and delicate qualities with sweet herbal structures unlike any other origin.
Our relationships span across several “Colonia” communities throughout Caranavi. Each Colonia boasts past Cup of Excellence Winners that fell on hard times after the competition left Bolivia in 2009. Through our faithful decade long commitments we are seeing new hope and new energy.
Siete Estrellas is a quiet and densely shaded coffee community with humble old heritage Typicas and Caturras alongside younger Catuaí farms. Some of our favorite coffees in the whole world are grown here.
San Ignacio is a vibrant and motivated community with a diversity of farms and farmers. Caturra and Catuaí dominate here while Pacamara and Java are making new appearances.
Kantutani is a very remote place also called “Peak of the Jaguar” for literal reasons! These coffees can be absolute stunners with Catuaí, Typica, Icatu and new Gesha plants.
Copacabana & Fortín are in mountains overlooking the town of Caranavi. Catuaí and Icatu produce archetype Bolivian coffees while experiments with Gesha show great promise.
HARVEST: AUG TO NOV ARRIVAL: MARCH TO APRIL
BURUNDI
Burundi is one the most challenged landlocked countries in the world, but tasting these outstanding coffees you’d never think it. They draw you in even more with that perspective through the exceptional support and processing from the Long Miles Coffee Project.
Bonaventure helped Long Miles establish a new washing station on Ninga Hill in 2020 after years of supporting this hill. Ninga farmers had previously traveled the farthest to the original Long Miles Bukeye station. Now they are full of joy and drive reaching two more distinct hill communities and profiles from the new Ninga Washing Station.
We now represent these three hills in North America with Long Miles as an exclusive Ninga Washing station partner. This station produces distinct lots of mostly Classic Washed and Anaerobic Honey lots alongside some Natural and Anaerobic Natural lots from three hills.
Ninga Hill delivers red and yellow fruit flavors from raspberries and hibiscus to citrus and stonefruits while carrying a sweet tea quality in a round and inviting structure.
Bumba Hill shows darker fruited berry flavors that seem to consistently offer sweeter dark chocolate qualities that surprise us and delight us for Burundi coffees.
Giku Hill on the other hand changes things up with brighter higher toned flavors that evoke green and yellow fruits offering a burst of what makes East African coffees so special.
HARVEST: APRIL TO JULY ARRIVAL: JAN TO MAR
GUATEMALA
Our presence in Guatemala is on the slopes of the Agua Volcano just outside Antigua with the small producers that make up a quilt-like patchwork of small farms above Ciudad Vieja. Luis Pedro Zelaya manages several traditional estates around Antigua but his support and promotion of small farmers in the Hunapu program is what caught our attention.
We helped establish the first farmer separations within the Hunapu program with Eduardo “Guayo” Gomez in 2013. Since that time Don Guayo has continued to excel and grow his production and support of other neighbor growers like the Cachajines family.
The distinct flavors and structure of coffees from this volcano consistently produce fan favorite cups in both microlot and high-end blend components. The success of this program and support has even led to new rare varieties being planted by these small growers like Geisha and Java. In a region known for its heritage estates the growing focus and success for everyday small scale producers is our passion.
Don Guayo has five distinct plots on the volcano that have been separated as their own microlots since 2021. These are rich and structured Bourbon coffees with each lot having a more fruited citrus laden cup the higher the elevation.
Cachajines is a family of five sibling producers who inherited several Catuaí plots from their father that offer another great window into the terroir of Vulcan de Agua with a slightly more fruited quality showing stone fruits and apples with a distinct cocoa quality.
HARVEST: DEC TO APRIL ARIVAL: JUNE T0 JULY
HONDURAS
The model for relationship coffee is on Santa Barbara Mountain. The San Vincente team and their producers represent the very best of specialty coffee in a powerful dynamic of motivation, collaboration and grace.
The entire coffee supply stream connects here in a brilliant and inspiring model for the rest of the world in what specialty coffee can be. Excellent and distinct coffees abound here powered by meaningful relationships. All are welcome here and it feels like anything is possible.
Bonaventure works with both longtime and brand new producers in each of the villages on Santa Barbara Mountain. We separate unique microlots and pickings as small as two bags while building village and regional specific traceable blends up to 80 bags in size.
El Cielito & Ocotillo is where Natividad Benitez won COE in 2005 starting it all. Pacas coffees from original and young upstart producers alike star with complex citrus flavors and a savory quality that can fool you into thinking you’re in Africa.
El Cedral is one ridge over from El Cielito established by the Moreno family. This village shows tropical citrus and berry flavors with classic juniper from the popular Pacas.
Las Flores is quieter community closer to El Cielito. There is more Pacas here but the personality-plus Parainema shines in this terroir with both washed and honey processes.
El Sauce & El Dorado is around the north side of the mountain with dramatic limestone formations like Thai highlands. The Sagastume family are organic leaders here with a diversity of varieties and processing lots from Pacas to Catuaí and Gesha.
We are also partnering with San Vicente in new projects in other regions as well inspiration and success is reaching new aspiring producers to bringing their coffees and names into new places through new connections.
Proyecto Cabañas is a community to south in Marcala where pine laden high altitudes produce Catuaí coffees of true distinction, density and balance. A central washing station empowers local small farmers for entry into specialty for a region known for larger farms.
San Andrés is another region Benjamin’s cousin Arturo identified for its potential in its terroir and producers. Farms and lot sizes vary dramatically as do the profiles. This is a region to watch for offering excellent microlots and blend components alike.
HONDURAS HARVEST: JAN TO JUNE ARRIVAL JUNE TO SEPT
KENYA
For one of the most exciting origins of consistently outstanding quality and uniqueness of profiles Kenya is notoriously difficult for developing relationships and cultivating consistent access to particular coffees and producers. We even considered giving up on Kenya.
That is until we discovered the Othaya Farmers Cooperative Society in the famous Nyeri County and shortly after traveled to the untapped potential in Western Kenya with Long Miles together dreaming and exploring how to both cultivate that potential and chart a path forward in relationship coffee in Kenya.
This endeavor is becoming a new chapter in our shared values and passion for potential and terroir, for connection and hope but also for stillness and contemplation. From the tea fields of Kericho and an abandoned monastery our journey took us to the far west on the Mount Elgon volcano. Here the best of the Kerico and Nyeri profiles come together with the collective hopes and ripeness of once quarreling parties ready to work together for a new future.
Mount Elgon in Bungoma County is a massive volcano oftentimes hiding behind clouds and atmosphere just like its obscure communities longing for connection. Here a model farm is being planned by Long Miles along with washing stations and educational scout teams.
Karuthi & Thuti Factories are well situated in Nyeri County belonging to the longest standing FCS with the most stable leadership we’ve seen. Classic Nyeri flavors from SL28 and SL34 are framed by some of the sweetest and most polished structures in Kenya.
HARVEST: NOV TO FEB ARRIVAL: APRIL TO JUNE