Colombian La Piramide from Cauca. One of a group of the very first Colombian relationship coffees we as Quaffee discovered. We have been enjoying this coffee since 2008, becoming a cornerstone of our Colombian offering.
Colombia through Caravela’s eyes
Colombia is mystical, diverse, and simply spectacular. Blessed by its privileged geographic location, being the only country in South America with coasts on both the Pacific and the Atlantic, Colombia is a nation proud of the coffee it produces. A country with a diversity of people and cultures, culinary, but also of topographies, climates, and ecosystems. This diversity, nourished by rich soils and the climatic confluences of the Pacific, Andes, and Amazon, makes Colombia a sweet spot that fosters year-round coffee production and harvests of remarkable quality and consistency. Where coffee is produced in more than half of Colombia’s 32 departments, most of them located along the three cordilleras.
Informational video
Inza, Cauca
Located some 90 km north-east of the colonial city of Popayán lies the municipality of Inza, in the Department of Cauca. Based in the centre of the western and eastern slopes of the Cordillera central of the Colombian Andes, right in between the Nevado de Purace and the Nevado del Huila (an active volcano). This beautiful region of Colombia is where some two thousand coffee growers call home. These farmers cultivate coffee on the slopes of the mountains overlooking the canyon of the Paez river and the Nevado del Huila, at altitudes between 1,700 and 2,000 masl.
Until 2004 all the coffees grown here were sold in hum drum lots as Huila coffee. Then in 2004 an association of the farmers (ASORCAFE) was created. They setup their own warehouses and started purchasing their members’ production, eliminating the middlemen and sold their coffee directly in Popayán obtaining better prices. Virmax started working with them soon after, educating them on how to improve the quality of their coffee, training 2 cuppers from the association and setting up a cupping lab. Their coffee was also named Colombian La Piramide from Cauca Relationship Coffee, a name that comes from the many piramid-shaped mountains that can be found in the region. Thanks to this work, the coffee from Inza is slowly becoming well known in Colombia and the world, the members of ASORCAFE and their community are finally receiving the profits and recognition that they deserve.
Details of Colombian La Piramide from Cauca
An intensely sweet and balanced coffee with citric, strawberry, red apple and floral notes, a syrupy milk chocolate body and an enjoyable sugar cane sweetness.
Starting Brews
| Brew Method | Ratio | Brew Method | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 1:2.2 | AeroPress | 16.5g:200g | |
| Plunger | 50g:800g | Pour over/filter | 20g:300g |
More…
Read our posts from when we visited this area:
- Finca La Cumbre – La Piramide contributor
- Farmer Jesus Angel – La Piramide contributor
- Finca pedreros La Piramide contributor
Transparency Information
| Sourced from | Caravela |
|---|---|
| FOB price | US$5.50/pound (2022) |
| Cupping score | 84.5-85.5 (seasonal variances, this is the min and max) |
| Logistics | Cost ZA27.5 / kg. Consolidated it with our other Colombian coffees. |
| Producer/Organisation | Caravela |
| Lot size bought | 7 x 35 kg Pedura boxes (2022) |
| Relationship | Our relationship with Caravela goes back to 2008. |
Warren Machanik –
Just had a chemex, a very enjoyable coffee with cocoa notes.
Andreas –
Greetings from Sweden. Picked up La Piramide in a rush just having tasted the been. Exiting coffee. Good stuff and suited family perfect!
Warren Machanik –
Great to hear you enjoyed it. We love it too.
Bentley (verified owner) –
A real treat. Did not expect this much sweetness and acidity from a Colombian coffee. Bright with body in the finish that makes me reach for another sip. Immediate success with my aeropress (med-fine grind, 3 min total brew), but keen to see how it goes with a v60 and French press.
Warren Machanik –
It is a great coffee, thanks for the “brew” recipe. We love our specialty Colombians, they are always enjoyable, and the Sudan Rume is a stand-out too.
Warren Machanik –
Part of the reason we have offered the Colombians from Caravela is because they show the true Flavours of great Colombians. So happy you enjoyed this great coffee.