Peru Organic La Florida — Green Coffee Beans

This lot is exceptionally well-sorted for screen size — nearly 99% of the sample sits on a single mesh size, which means unusually even heat absorption across the batch and a clean, predictable roast curve. The chocolate and caramel character builds progressively through development, while the mandarin citrus and floral base are most vivid earlier in the roast and soften as development extends.

Chanchamayo is a province in Peru's Junín region, part of the country's central jungle coffee corridor on the eastern slopes of the Andes. This lot is grown near Yurinaqui by CAC La Florida, a coffee cooperative organising smallholder farmers across the region. Growing Catuaí, Castillo, and Marsellesa varieties, the cooperative model behind this lot means many individual small farms are represented in every batch — a structure common across Peru's specialty sector, where cooperatives provide processing infrastructure, quality control, and market access that individual smallholders could not access alone.

This lot carries both Organic and Fair Trade certification, verified through independent third-party audit rather than claimed informally. Organic certification confirms cultivation without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers; Fair Trade certification confirms the cooperative and its farmers receive a guaranteed minimum price and additional social premium above conventional market rates. Together these certifications represent meaningful, audited standards — not marketing language — and this is the only lot in our Peruvian offering carrying both.

Independent quality control evaluation scored this lot 83.75 on a 100-point cupping scale, placing it solidly in the specialty coffee category. The cupping notes — sweet chocolate, caramel, mandarin citrus, and a delicate citrus and floral base with smooth body and citric acidity — were confirmed by a certified quality control cupper. Moisture content was measured at 12%, and the lot was screen-sorted with over 98% of beans falling on a single mesh size, indicating careful, consistent processing at the cooperative's mill.

What does Organic and Fair Trade certification actually guarantee?

Both certifications are independently audited, not self-declared. Organic certification confirms the coffee was grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, verified through farm inspection and documentation. Fair Trade certification confirms the cooperative and its member farmers received a guaranteed minimum price for their coffee regardless of market fluctuations, plus a social premium invested in community projects. This lot carries both certifications, verified through third-party audit — genuine standards behind the label, not marketing claims.

How is this different from the Peru Cajamarca lot in your catalogue?

Different region, different producer structure, and different certification status. The Cajamarca lot is grown in northern Peru and, while grown under organic-compatible and fair trade-aligned practices, is not formally certified — we do not market it as organic or fair trade. This La Florida lot is grown by a cooperative in Chanchamayo, central Peru, and carries genuine third-party Organic and Fair Trade certification. The cup profiles differ too: Cajamarca leans toward stone fruit, honey, and raisin, while this La Florida lot delivers chocolate, caramel, and mandarin citrus.

What is a coffee cooperative and how does it affect quality?

A cooperative like CAC La Florida pools coffee from many smallholder farmers in a region, providing shared processing infrastructure, quality control, and access to export markets that individual small farms typically cannot access alone. Because a cooperative lot represents many farms rather than one, consistency depends on the strength of the cooperative's quality control systems. This lot's independent evaluation — a cupping score of 83.75 with detailed defect analysis and screen sorting — reflects a cooperative with a well-managed quality program.

How should I store this green coffee?

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light and moisture. Green coffee is stable for 12 to 18 months in correct storage conditions. We ship all our green coffee in 9 layer hermetic Ecotact bags to preserve moisture content and the aromatic character of this lot between roasting sessions.