Bring on Bolivia!

Published 22 Aug 2022

We’re fast approaching one of the most exciting times of the year at MCM: Bolivian buying season!

Here is everything you need to know about this year’s harvest, the coffees we’ll be tasting and what we will be looking for on the cupping table.

Overview of the harvest

It’s looking like another great year for Bolivian coffee, thanks to the favourable weather conditions experienced in both growing regions we source from, Caranavi and Samaipata. Although labour shortages and the rising cost of farming inputs have had some negative impacts on the season, the Rodríguez family have continued to refine and fine-tune their state-of-the-art production facilities.

This year, Agricafe has purchased a new depulper, new guardiolas and new stationary box dryers. They are also intending to use enclosed tanks when fermenting all the coffees they process, as it gives them more control over the final product, and further enhances the complexity, clarity and transparency of their coffees. All information gathered at this stage, will be tracked and examined at their Buena Vista mill and at the new fermentation lab they are building onsite.

Eight of the ‘Fincas Los Rodríguez’ farms are in Caranavi, in the department of La Paz, and the remaining four are in Samaipata, in the department of Santa Cruz in Bolivia’s east.

What we will be tasting

We will be evaluating offer samples from all of the Los Rodríguez farms, including Las Alasitas, Waliki and La Llama in Caranavi, and Floripondio and El Fuerte in Samaipata.

We will also be selecting lots from our favourite Sol de la Mañana smallholders including the Mamani Family, Pedro Flores and Carmela Aduviri. Given their increasing volumes, most of their coffee is now processed at Agricafe’s Buena Vista mill in Caranavi – an exciting development, as this means their crop will benefit from the Rodriguez family’s meticulous approach to processing. It also ensures all water used during the milling is treated and discarded in an environmentally safe way.

What we will be looking for

We will be cupping washed Caturra lines from most of the farms we work with. We will be looking for classic Bolivian coffees that are intensely sweet, transparent and easy to drink, and will make an exceptional filter or single origin espresso.

We will also be tasting this season’s rare variety and specially prepared micro-lots. Along with Geshas, Javas and Batians, we are anticipating more Kenyan varieties and Pacamaras, as well as specially prepared naturals, lactic naturals and honey processed coffees. When selecting these coffees, we will be looking for show stopping lots that are distinct and complex. Our goal will be to find coffees that are dazzling and unique, with good intensity of flavour, a balanced cup profile, and a ‘taste of place’ retained wishing in.

When these coffees will land

The coffees we select now will land in late 2022 or early 2023. We expect to taste offer samples over the next few weeks, with Pre-Shipment Samples (PSS) tentatively available by the end of September/early October.

These spectacular coffees are extremely labour-intensive to harvest and process, and volumes are extremely limited, so we will be purchasing most of these lots on a pre-ordered basis. Now is the time to let us know if you would like to feature any particular lots from Bolivia on your own menu. Simply get in touch via email, or give the team a call to chat further.