Organic Lavender Honey - Espresso

Federación de Sociedades Cooperativas Cafetaleras de la Costa Soconusco del Estado de Chiapas (FEDECOS) is a coffee-producing cooperative established in 2016 in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. The cooperative brings together over 800 smallholder farmers , many of whom are embracing robusta coffee as a sustainable alternative crop in the region’s lowland tropical climate. While Mexico has traditionally been known for its arabica production, robusta is a relatively recent addition , and FEDECOS has played a significant role in its local adoption.

Located near the Guatemalan border, the Soconusco region offers ideal conditions for robusta cultivation—characterized by rich volcanic soils, abundant rainfall, and warm temperatures . FEDECOS provides its members with technical assistance, access to markets, and training in best agricultural practices , often in collaboration with industry partners like Nestlé Mexico, who have supported the expansion of robusta through seedling distribution and agronomy programs.

FEDECOS is committed to improving the livelihoods of its members by promoting sustainable farming, increasing coffee quality, and ensuring fair market access . The cooperative also supports community development , reinvesting profits into local infrastructure, education, and social programs that benefit producers and their families. By organizing at the cooperative level, FEDECOS enables small-scale farmers to collectively process and market their coffee, ensuring traceability and consistency for buyers while empowering the producers behind every cup.

Cooperativa Café Timor (CCT) is one of the most respected and socially impactful coffee cooperatives in Southeast Asia. Founded in 1994 with support from USAID and NCBA CLUSA, the cooperative was created to help rebuild the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in post-conflict Timor-Leste. What began as a modest effort with just a few hundred members has grown into a thriving network of over 20,000 farmer-members across the mountainous districts of Ainaro, Ermera, Liquiçá, and Aileu. Most of these farmers manage plots of less than one hectare and cultivate their coffee in remote, high-altitude villages, often accessible only by foot or narrow dirt roads.

CCT’s coffee is grown between 800 and 1,600 meters above sea level in nutrient-rich volcanic loam soil, under the natural canopy of shade trees like Albizia and Casuarina. The combination of elevation, climate, and soil results in ideal conditions for producing clean, sweet, and well-balanced Arabica coffees. Among the varietals grown are Typica, Bourbon, Kent, Caturra, and the regionally significant Híbrido de Timor—a naturally occurring cross between Arabica and Robusta discovered in East Timor in the 1950s. This hybrid is prized for its disease resistance and ability to thrive without chemical inputs, making it a cornerstone of the country's organic coffee movement.

All coffee from CCT is certified USDA Organic and Fair Trade, and processed using the fully washed method. After harvesting, cherries are depulped, fermented to remove mucilage, washed, and sun-dried on patios or raised beds. The result is a clean cup profile with vibrant acidity, medium body, and flavor notes that often include caramel, citrus, milk chocolate, and soft herbal undertones.

What truly sets CCT apart is its deep commitment to community well-being. The cooperative reinvests its premiums into extensive social programs, including a network of 11 mobile medical clinics and 8 permanent health centers that have provided free healthcare to over 2 million people in rural communities. CCT also offers agronomic training, organic certification support, and seedling distribution to help its members improve both coffee quality and environmental sustainability.

Today, CCT remains the largest single exporter of coffee from Timor-Leste, shipping tens of thousands of bags annually to specialty roasters around the world. Their model has helped put Timor-Leste on the global coffee map—not just for the quality of its beans, but for the resilience and vision of the people behind them.