Llama on the Shelf 2024

The Story Behind the Coffee

UGANDA

Bushiyi comes to us from our producer partner in Uganda, Mountain Harvest. We have been sourcing direct with them since 2020. Bushiyi boasts 188 dedicated farmers consistently delivering exceptional coffee year after year. The station is situated at an elevation of around 1900 masl where the coffee is processed with care. This is a really dependable Uganda.

Mountain Harvest (MH) has actively engaged with Bushiyi to address the community's needs for income diversification and regenerative agriculture through transformational farmer services that support the farmers’ ability to grow resilient farm-based businesses, and ultimately, excellent coffees that ensure market access. In a commitment to sustainability, MH provided 820 kgs of beans for nitrogen enrichment, distributed 200 kgs of macadamia tree seedlings, 200 kgs of avocado seedlings, established 35 beehives, and initiated 30 Village Savings and Loans Associations. These efforts empower the community, allowing them to access formal bank accounts and lines of credit through MH’s microfinance program.

COLOMBIA

Black Condor is making its rounds this season. Have you tried Warm Hearts? That is the single origin medium roast of this lot. We love working with this coffee because of the impact it is making in Gaitania, Tolima. It is a direct trade coffee we just started buying this year from our importer Forest Green. The project is a partnership between Forest and the Enciso family in the remote town of Gaitania. The washing station processes cherries delivered from 120 participating farmers in the area who have historically been affected by violence. Josue and Emmanuel Enciso are community leaders and the excitement from the farmers was evident from our visit in early November 2024. Built in 2020, the washing and drying station is continuing to grow and improve with the engineering genius of the Enciso’s, the future looks bright for coffees coming out of here!