CafédirectFrom The Growers

A storm in a coffee cup…

Posted by Cafédirect, May 14th, 2012, Comments (0)

We’re often reminded that climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face globally today. And yet sometimes we can get lost in the overwhelming scale of the problem. But, if like us, one of the highlights of your day is a great cup of coffee, then the challenges … Read more

WeFarm comes to life!

Posted by Cafedirect Producers Foundation, May 2nd, 2012, Comments (0)

The Cafédirect Producers’ Foundation (CPF) is proud to introduce our new WeFarm Video! Created by award-winning agency Airside, the video comes shortly after our we completed our first international WeFarm pilot project, where 30 farmers in rural Peru spent two days exchanging knowledge and ideas with 15 smallholder tea farmers … Read more

The Kilimanjaro coffee journey: the final chapter

Posted by Paul, April 13th, 2012, Comments (0)

Jambo sana and karibu Kilimanjaro! My trip to the mountain. As I mentioned in my previous blog I’m writing these lines from the slopes of Kilimanjaro after concluding a visit to KNCU, our producer partner and supplier of Kilimanjaro Gourmet Coffee. The week was amazing, visiting some of our partners … Read more

WeFarm needs you!

Posted by Cafedirect Producers Foundation, March 29th, 2012, Comments (0)

We need you to help vote for a fantastic, pioneering technology project, set up by the Cafédirect Producers’ Foundation (CPF) to help farmers the world over communicate with each other and share tips and advice. CPF works in partnership with smallholder farmers and their organisations to design innovative solutions to … Read more

Landslides and coffee: our first Producer Conference of 2012

Posted by Cafédirect, March 7th, 2012, Comments (0)

Each year Cafédirect holds producer partner update meetings in three corners of the globe: Latin America, Central America and Africa. They are always a great opportunity for those of us based in London to meet with representatives from of each of the cooperatives and really understand what’s going on with … Read more

The Kilimanjaro Journey: preparing for auction

Posted by Paul, January 23rd, 2012, Comments (0)

In our last post we talked about the process coffee goes through after the cherries have been picked (commonly called wet mill process), which results in something called ‘parchment coffee’, characterized by a yellow external layer. Once complete, the farmer usually takes the beans to a nearby Primary Cooperative Society. … Read more

The Kilimanjaro Journey: harvest arrives in Tanzania

Posted by Paul, December 5th, 2011, Comments (0)

In this latest post in our Kilimanjaro Journey series, Paul takes a look at how the harvest is shaping up in Tanzania and the challenges farmers at Kilimanjaro are currently facing. The harvest in Tanzania has now begun and it’s time for coffee collection! Between now and January individual farmers … Read more

Matching coffee and food – Cloud Forest beans

Posted by Thierry, November 18th, 2011, Comments (0)

Following on from the food and coffee matching event we held last month, we are continuing our journey into profiling Cafedirect single-origin coffees to help you select your coffee and dessert combination with confidence – in much the same way as you would do with wine. Today we are heading … Read more

Visiting Cesmach at their Annual General Meeting!

Posted by Paul, October 19th, 2011, Comments (0)

I recently had the fantastic opportunity to have a presentation at the CESMACH Annual General Meeting (AGM); this cooperative is one of our partners in Mexico, and is a proud producer of organic and sustainable coffee. Cesmach members live around the buffer zone of “El Triunfo Natural Reserve” and a … Read more

Independence Day Celebrations in Central America

Posted by Paul, September 19th, 2011, Comments (0)

A taste of celebrations in México, Nicaragua and Costa Rica!! Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica are the source of some of our most exquisite coffees. These countries are characterized by beautiful landscapes, fertile soils, mild weather and production techniques that bring distinctive flavours to our coffees. But this is not … Read more

‘Denomination of Origin’ for Machu Picchu 100 years after rediscovery!

Posted by Paul, July 25th, 2011, Comments (0)

Machu Picchu 100 - Huadquina Origin Denomination

This July marks the 100th anniversary of rediscovery Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders, by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. A century after this historic finding, Machu Picchu has become one of most iconic destinations on the planet. We’ve experienced your appetite to visit this amazing place through the … Read more

Tales from Teafields in Western Kenya

Posted by Yasmin, May 18th, 2011, Comments (0)

Karibu! I’ve just come back from Kenya where I spent time in Nandi Hills in western Kenya with our tea partners, Eastern Produce Kenya – Outgrower Empowerment Programme (EPK-OEP). Although I’ve met growers over here, this was my first trip to origin and an amazing opportunity to see how tea is … Read more

Jambo from Kenya!

Posted by Paul, May 10th, 2011, Comments (0)

I’ve just been to Kenya for our Business Update Meeting with our African partners.It’s always interesting to hear from the growers and hear how crops are doing, what challenges they are facing and also see growers sharing information and learning from each other. Many smallholder producers share many challenges, like … Read more

Peru in pictures…

Posted by Paul, May 7th, 2011, Comments (1)

I just finished my visit to Peru meeting some of our coffee partners. It was a fantastic experience full of colours and flavours, but most importantly full of human warmth. I’ll share more news from my trip over the coming weeks, starting today with some of my favourite pictures. After … Read more

The colours of coffee

Posted by Paul, April 20th, 2011, Comments (0)

I recently visited our coffee partners at CESMACH in the Chiapas region of Mexico. The high altitude, fertile soils and climate there make it an excellent coffee growing region. CESMACH coffee growers live and grow coffee in the buffer zone of a very important natural protected area called “El Triunfo … Read more

CECOVASA, Peru, experts in quality coffee…

Posted by Paul, March 2nd, 2011, Comments (0)

I’m back at Cafédirect London offices fresh from a visit to our Peruvian coffee partners. While in Peru I spent a lot of time with CECOVASA, who are experts in producing excellent quality coffee, and whose coffee goes into our Medium and Rich blends. CECOVASA are also known for producing … Read more

Welcome to Choco!

Posted by Whitney, February 1st, 2011, Comments (0)

This week I visited the reforestation project that Cafédirect is supporting high up in the Sierra de Piura in Peru, near the village of Choco. Having worked with the project for over a year, and only met the partners on the ground via email or phone, it was amazing to … Read more

Cafédirect…. Nosotros somos los productores…(We are the Growers)… from Peru

Posted by Paul, February 1st, 2011, Comments (0)

I’m in Peru with members of the Cafédirect UK team to meet some of our coffee partners and visit their farms. Last week we had our annual business update meeting with Peruvian coffee partners. Representatives came from nine coffee co-operatives located all around Peru, from the south Andes near Titicaca … Read more

Report from deepest darkest …

Posted by Whitney, January 25th, 2011, Comments (1)

Greetings from Peruvian summertime! I’m here in Lima with some of my colleagues to host a meeting over the next two days with all of our Peruvian coffee partners. During this valuable time together, we’ll share with them the latest update on the UK coffee market and they’ll share with … Read more

Mayan Ruins: the origin of our Gourmet Mayan Palenque Coffee

Posted by Paul, December 21st, 2010, Comments (1)

Here at Cafédirect we are planning our next coffee season, the harvest which will arrive in the UK early in 2011, so I’ve been busy visiting our coffee partners. On my recent trip to coffee partners in southern Mexico I went to Ocosingo, a magical place just at the edge … Read more

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