Coffee from Peru

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September 28, 2022
Coffee from Peru

Most coffee lovers from all over the world have Brazil to thank for being able to enjoy their cup of potion daily, as it is in the top of the list of coffee producers. A little less known fact is that Peru almost holds the same title, even though you do not find it in the first five producers. Wondering how is this possible? Well, as a little introduction, Peru was on the 10th place in 2017 in the rank of the largest coffee producers. Therefore, this should be a good enough proof that Peruvian coffee indeed has a reason for its popularity. 

History

Peru was blessed with the arrival of the first coffee beans hundreds of years ago, around the mid-1700s, and it proved to be a match made in heaven ever since. Also, a little bit of luck (in some way) also contributed to the success we see today. In the late 1800s, a disease affected the coffee plantations in Indonesia and its surrounding countries. This forced Europe to look somewhere else for coffee, in order to satisfy its insatiable need. In this context, Peru was discovered, and its future changed forever. Ever since, not only has Peru been careful to produce the best quality coffee in the healthiest way, but it also has been enjoying the benefits of an improved economy. 

Today, we witness a country with over 100.000 workers in the coffee industry, that focuses on quality and fair trade. These practices help Peru battle with the top producers, like Brazil and Columbia. Its shade-grown and wet processed Arabica beans quickly earn respect on the international market. 

Growing regions

Capis

A famous fact that surrounds Peru is that it produces animal poop coffee. Well, even though it might not sound too desirable, this happens in the Capis region and the final result is actually quite incredible. The animals involved are called coatis, and they are allowed to eat the coffee fruits. Later on, about 4 to 6 hours, they eliminate only the beans. These beans are then picked, washed, roasted, and grounded. Do not worry, the process is absolutely safe and you will not end up ill if you give this coffee a try. Actually, you might even be surprised with the quality, a thing guaranteed by the high price.

Urubamba 

This region is found in the southside of the country, with the famous Machu Picchu and Cusco as its neighbours. The beans are wet-processed and famous for their enchanting and smooth aromas. 

Chanchamayo

Found on the eastern side of the imposing Andes Mountains, this region produces light to medium body beans with a mild to bright acidity. In comparison with beans from other locations, these are the highest quality found in Peru and usually organic. If you ever get the chance to indulge into a cup of Chanchamayo coffee, you will find that the notes of chocolate and nuts are exceptionally rich and perfectly combined with bright, sweet and citrusy tones.

Quechua

There is not much to say about this coffee except that it is so good that it won many awards, like Global Specialty Coffee Expo in Seattle. Do you need any more proof?

What is the profile of the Peruvian coffee?

Considering the fact that Peru has many growing regions that differ in altitude, the profiles also tend to be different. If you analyze the low-altitude farms like the ones around the town of Nambale, you will notice that the coffee has a mild acidity, medium body, and smooth notes of nuts, flowers, and fruits.

Going higher in the Andes mountains, the coffee starts to be characterized by a bright acidity, colorful floral aromas, and a rich sweetness. These types of beans are usually more likely to be able to compete against other specialty types. 

While these are the two general categories, more and more beans start to go beyond these limits and impress with their unicity. This phenomenon is due to the many farmers that were once held back by poor infrastructure, and now are able to make their coffee known to the world. For this, we can only get excited to discover as many incredible options as possible. 

In conclusion, even though Peru is not the largest coffee producing country in the world, it still delivers the best organic quality you will ever get your hands on. If you want to see for yourself how good it actually is, we encourage you to visit specialized sites like Cafendo or Hotspot Coffee. Do not forget to let us know what you think about it!

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