Martin Chirino lives on his 3-hectare farm in the colonia of Copacabana. A colonia is a small village in Bolivia, typically home to about 20 or 30 people, with a school, a church, and very little else.
Don Martin has worked in coffee for over 40 years and has owned land for about half of that time. He has passed on his enthusiasm for coffee to his four children, who all work in the coffee industry as well.
The Rodriguez family, who own and operate Agricafe, our Bolivian coffee sourcing partners, run a program called Sol De La Mañana. This initiative functions almost like a school for coffee producers. About a decade ago, a group of independent Bolivian coffee producers sought the Rodriguez family's assistance to improve their coffee production, aiming to enhance both yield and quality. From this initial request, the Sol De La Mañana program has flourished, now supporting over 100 independent Bolivian coffee producers, including Martin.
In addition to the support provided through Sol De La Mañana, the Rodriguez family processes coffee at their Buena Vista mill in Caranavi for local farmers who only grow coffee and lack processing facilities. The Buena Vista mill is equipped with a world-class coffee processing facility. Producers like Martin deliver their freshly harvested coffee cherries to the mill, where Agricafe processes the coffee in collaboration with the producers.
Traditionally, coffee in Bolivia is processed using the Washed method. However, the Los Rodriguez team has innovated by adding an Anaerobic Fermentation stage, which is carried out in stainless steel fermentation vessels. These vessels, more commonly seen in wineries or breweries, allow for the highest level of control in managing the fermentation process, enabling the team to deliver incredibly consistent quality. This is supported by an onsite lab where samples are taken and measured daily to provide precise data for management.
Imagine a segment of clementine that's been sprinkled in soft brown sugar. This coffee is sweet, juicy, and very well balanced, finishing with notes of pear and sultana.
