Peru El Oso Fairtrade Organic is named after the Andean bear also known as the "bespectacled bear," due to the eyeglass-like pattern around its eyes.

This coffee comes to us from Cooperativa Agraria Frontera San Ignacio (COOPAFSI) in San Ignacio, Cajamarca. Specifically, it's the work of 40 COOPAFSI producer members.

The coffee is grown between 1,500 and 1,700 meters above sea level and is washed and sun dried. Producers follow organic practices (interestingly, all coffee produced by COOPAFSI is certified Fairtrade Organic), which contributes to the preservation of the environment — and to the coffee's namesake. While sightings of the elusive and solitary bespectacled bears are rare, they have been spotted in the ecological reserve adjacent to COOPAFSI producers’ land.

COOPAFSI

Cooperativa Agraria Frontera San Ignacio (COOPAFSI) was founded in 1968. Today it offers critical services to its 453 members. These include access to a wet mill in San Ignacio and a dry mill in Chiclayo; two quality control labs run by Q Graders; access to a plant nursery and organic fertilizer; and an experimental plot and education center.

Additionally, COOPAFSI offers a young entrepreneurs program, technical assistance, income diversification (through guinea pig farms and honey production) and microloan access. It also has a community coffee shop.

Cupping notes: Blackberry, fig, lime, caramel, vanilla.