Cooperativa Central de Caficultores del Huila (COOCENTRAL)

For more than 60 years, the farmers of COOCENTRAL have been producing exceptional coffee while helping to build stronger farming communities.

Based in Huila, Colombia, COOCENTRAL brings together thousands of smallholder coffee farmers who believe that better coffee starts with working together. By sharing knowledge, investing in quality and supporting one another, the cooperative helps farming families build more resilient livelihoods and protect the future of coffee.

We've been working with COOCENTRAL since 2006, building a long-term partnership founded on shared values and a commitment to doing coffee differently.

Huila is one of Colombia's most celebrated coffee-growing regions, where rich volcanic soils, high altitudes and a mild climate create ideal conditions for producing outstanding Arabica coffee.

Many COOCENTRAL farmers grow coffee beneath the shade of native trees, helping to protect biodiversity while naturally supporting healthy coffee plants. Every harvest is carefully hand-picked before being processed and quality checked, ensuring the cooperative consistently delivers the high standards its farmers are known for.

The result is beautifully balanced coffee with the distinctive character that makes Huila one of the world's most respected coffee origins.

COOCENTRAL invests in programmes that help farmers strengthen their businesses for the long term. From technical support and training to improving coffee quality, increasing productivity and encouraging more sustainable farming practices, the cooperative works alongside members to help them thrive.

By investing together, farmers are better equipped to respond to the challenges of climate change, market volatility and changing growing conditions, helping to secure more resilient livelihoods for future generations.

Like all of our producer partnerships, it's built on long-term collaboration, mutual trust and a shared ambition to create a fairer coffee industry. By working directly with cooperatives like COOCENTRAL, we're helping ensure more value stays with the people who grow our coffee, while supporting the long-term future of coffee farming.

It's one of the ways we do business differently - working alongside the people who grow our coffee, not simply buying from them.

Founded: 1961

Location: Huila, Colombia

Partnership with Cafédirect: Since 2006

Coffee: High-altitude Arabica, hand-picked

Known for: Exceptional Colombian coffee, farmer support, sustainable farming and long-term quality.