Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca

Cauca, Colombian Andes, Southwestern,Colombia

CAFICAUCA represents coffee producers across multiple municipalities throughout the Cauca Department, so it is not limited to one specific municipality or subregion.

Location

Cauca, Colombian Andes, Southwestern,Colombia

Elevation

Approximately 1,400–2,200 meters above sea level

Varieties

Castillo, Caturra, Colombia

Processing

Washed (Wet Process)

Certifications

USDA Organic, Fair Trade

PRODUCER'S STORY

The Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca (CAFICAUCA)

PRODUCER'S STORY

The Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca (CAFICAUCA)

The story of the Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca (CAFICAUCA) began on December 12, 1961, when 297 coffee growers came together in Popayán, Colombia, to create a cooperative that would strengthen the economic opportunities of local farming families.

What began as a small organization has grown into a major producer-owned coffee cooperative representing more than 3,000 coffee-growing members across approximately 24 municipalities in Cauca. Over more than six decades, CAFICAUCA has helped connect smallholder farmers with coffee markets while providing access to technical assistance, quality programs, processing infrastructure, and specialty coffee opportunities.

The cooperative has also played an important role in developing the region's coffee industry. Through investments in coffee processing, quality evaluation, farmer training, and sustainability programs, CAFICAUCA has helped producers bring the distinctive character of Cauca coffee to markets around the world.

Behind every coffee sourced through the cooperative is the collective work of farming families who cultivate Arabica coffee across the high-altitude mountains of southwestern Colombia. Their dedication, combined with CAFICAUCA's cooperative support system, reflects a shared commitment to quality, community development, and the long-term future of coffee farming in Cauca.

NEW ARRIVALS FROM COOPERATIVA DE CAFICULTORES DEL CAUCA

PEOPLE BEHIND IT

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca Farmers

Coffee is cultivated by thousands of smallholder farming families across the mountainous landscapes of Cauca, Colombia. Individual producers typically manage their own family-owned farms, relying on generations of coffee-growing knowledge, family labor, and cultivation practices adapted to the region's high-altitude terrain.

Rather than operating as a single estate, CAFICAUCA brings together independent coffee growers through a cooperative structure. This allows farmers to maintain ownership of their individual farms while benefiting from shared technical assistance, agricultural training, coffee collection points, quality-control programs, processing infrastructure, and access to broader markets.

Through collective participation, the cooperative helps smallholder farmers improve harvesting and post-harvest practices while strengthening their ability to produce specialty and certified coffees. This model supports the economic resilience of coffee-growing families while preserving the traditional farming knowledge and regional identity of Cauca.

FARMING PRACTICE

Smallholder and Cooperative Farming

FARMING PRACTICE

Smallholder and Cooperative Farming

Coffee is cultivated by thousands of smallholder farming families across the mountainous landscapes of Cauca, Colombia. Individual producers typically manage their own family farms, relying on generations of agricultural knowledge, family labor, and practices adapted to the region's high-altitude terrain.

Through CAFICAUCA's cooperative structure, independent farmers gain access to technical assistance, agricultural training, quality-control programs, coffee collection points, processing infrastructure, and broader markets. This collective model allows small-scale producers to maintain ownership of their farms while benefiting from shared resources and stronger market access.

The cooperative structure also supports improvements in harvesting, post-harvest handling, and coffee quality, helping producers participate in specialty and certified coffee markets. By bringing together thousands of smallholder farmers, CAFICAUCA strengthens the economic resilience of coffee-growing families while preserving the traditional farming knowledge and regional identity of Cauca coffee.

SUSTAINABLE BY NATURE

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca Investing in Long-Term Environmental & Social Sustainability

SUSTAINABLE BY NATURE

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca Investing in Long-Term Environmental & Social Sustainability

Sustainability is integrated into CAFICAUCA's operations through environmental management systems, responsible coffee production programs, and support for smallholder farming communities throughout Cauca, Colombia.

The cooperative maintains an ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system, demonstrating a structured commitment to managing and reducing environmental impacts throughout its operations. Through its coffee collection, processing, and commercialization activities, CAFICAUCA works to promote more responsible resource management and environmentally conscious coffee production.

The cooperative also participates in sustainability programs including 4C and Fairtrade, helping support responsible agricultural practices, supply-chain transparency, producer welfare, and improved social and environmental standards.

Soil Health & Natural Cultivation

Many farmers employ low-input agricultural practices that focus on maintaining soil fertility through organic matter, composting, and natural nutrient cycles. These approaches help support long-term productivity while reducing dependence on costly external inputs.

Water Stewardship

Water stewardship focuses on the responsible management and protection of water resources throughout the coffee production process. This includes practices that reduce water waste during processing, protect natural water sources on the farm, and maintain the health of surrounding watersheds. The goal is to ensure that coffee production supports, rather than strains, local water ecosystems and communities.

Conservation & Biodiversity

Efforts to protect forests, native vegetation, wildlife habitats, ecosystems, and the natural biodiversity surrounding coffee-growing areas.

Community Development & Farmer Empowerment

Programs that improve the long-term social and economic well-being of producers and rural communities through fair market access, education, technical training, healthcare, infrastructure, and producer support.

Climate Resilience & Responsible Production

Farming and production practices designed to reduce environmental impact and help coffee-growing communities adapt to climate change, changing weather patterns, pests, disease, and other long-term agricultural challenges.

Certifications

USDA Organic

Fair Trade

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca

The coffee producers represented by the Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca (CAFICAUCA) combine generations of coffee-growing expertise, exceptional Andean growing conditions, and a strong cooperative structure within one of Colombia's most respected specialty coffee regions. Through its network of more than 3,000 coffee-producing members across Cauca, CAFICAUCA provides access to high-quality coffees while supporting producer development, traceability, quality control, and responsible coffee production.

The cooperative's investment in coffee collection, processing infrastructure, cupping laboratories, technical training, and specialty coffee programs helps maintain quality from the farm through export. Combined with the high elevations, cool mountain climate, and mineral-rich soils of Cauca, these efforts produce coffees known for their bright acidity, caramel sweetness, chocolate character, floral aromatics, and clean, balanced finish.

For roasters and coffee drinkers alike, this coffee reflects both the distinctive terroir of the Cauca region and the collective dedication of the smallholder farming families who have helped establish southwestern Colombia as one of the world's premier specialty coffee origins.