Colombia Yacuanquer

The village of Yacuanquer is located along the Andes Mountains in Colombia’s Nariño region. It is home to multi-generational coffee-producing families. The farmers’ coffee trees lie in the lower Yacuanquer area between 1,800 to 2,200 masl. The landscape here, although full of green and gold foliage, sits within a series of thick low-lying clouds.

Coffee cherries are handpicked at peak ripeness, and undergo a traditional post-collection processing. In Colombia, this is known as “el beneficio,” meaning the coffee cherries are de-pulped, washed, and fermented for 18 to 22 hours. The coffee is then washed before it is dried on patios and in parabolic dryers for 8 to 15 days. Coffees from Yacuanquer are celebrated for their creamy bodies and sweet red fruit notes.

This coffee was produced with ethically hired labor through the Manos al Grano Foundation - Pickers Project. Launched in Yacuanquer in 2017, this program formalizes labor practices and supports pickers, often the most vulnerable in the supply chain. Pickers receive full-time employment with benefits, healthcare, legal payments, and continuous training.