Peru Jaén El Huaco

This "El Huaco" lot is a mix of coffees from several small-holder farmers in the town of El Huaco within the greater District of Huabal, Jaén. The average altitude is around 1700 meters above sea level ,and cultivars grown are typically Bourbon, Catimor, and Catuaí. This is a fully washed coffee, or "wet process". Most farmers pulp their coffee cherries using small pulpers at their home. The seeds are then fermented for 36 to 48 hours in order to break down the sticky fruit mucilage layer, which is then washed away with clean water. Finally, the coffee is moved to the drying beds where it takes around 3 weeks to fully dry. The group who set up this buying operation are working to register all the farmers they buy from in order to help isolate different quality tiers, but also be able to issue the initial payments and any quality premiums themselves, something that was lacking when they were buying through more traditional avenues. It doesn't help that the roads leading to Huabal and within the district are much more rustic than some of their neighbors, limiting access to farmers in this region.