Episode 336 on Monday the 20th of April, 2015. Bolivia Copacabana Washed Caturra Vincent Paye.

We have had this coffee before but last time the lot was produced by various smallholder farmers from the small town of Copacabana, which lies about 180km from La Paz in the heart of the Caranavi coffee producing region. This time it comes from one individual, called Vincent Paye who has been working hard to produce great coffee, and in fact is a beacon of hope in this tough growing region.

This is a lush and fertile region, whose steep slopes and valleys provide excellent conditions for growing specialty coffee, as well as supporting a diverse range of native flora and fauna, with rich volcanic soils and regular rainfall. 

The colony of Copacabana has a collection of small farms that are around 5 hectares each (Vincent has 10), and range over an altitude of 1,300 to 1,600 metres, benefiting from an average annual temperature of between 15 and 26°C. This lot comes from a farm matching these criteria but is around 1,550 m.a.s.l. These traditional farms use no chemicals or pesticides and are certified organic although we do not hold an organic certification. 

The main harvest runs from May to September, peaking in June and July. The cherries are hand-picked only when fully ripe and delivered to the central mill called Buena Vista where they are then fully. This lot was picked on the 29th of August and is part of our second container of coffees we bought from Bolivia this year.  They are then dried, this time because of the wet weather mechanically over a 9 day period. 

In the cup, this is yellow. Now I know 'yellow' is a strange description, but think yellow; think peachesand oranges (not strictly yellow), mangoes. 'Sunshine in a cup' may be one description too far, but you get the idea. A delicious brewed coffee.

• Country: Bolivia 
• Region: Caranavi
• Town: Copacabana 
• Farm: Vincent Paye
• Altitude: 1,550 m.a.s.l.
• Owner: Vincent Paye
• Varietal: Caturra
• Processing: Full washed and mechanically dried