Calama La Paz Pacamara, Bolivia | FILTER

High in the folds of the Bolivian Andes, where clouds drift low and the air thins into cool, bright stillness, coffee first took root. Spanish colonists brought the crop to the Yungas in the late 18th and early 19th century, but it was the indigenous communities — guided at the time by French influence — who planted the first seeds in these steep, fertile valleys. Production was modest, almost experimental, and Bolivia’s turbulent political landscape made it difficult for the young industry to grow.

When Bolivia gained independence in 1825, the country entered a century marked by instability. Coffee remained a quiet presence in the mountains, tended by families who worked the land but lacked the support to build something larger. It wasn’t until the mid‑1900s that the story began to shift.

Agrarian reforms in the 20th century redistributed land to indigenous farmers, transforming Caranavi — a lush region within the Yungas — into the heart of Bolivian coffee. With land ownership came possibility. Smallholder farmers began organising, forming cooperatives to strengthen their voice and improve their livelihoods. ANPROCA emerged in 1976, followed by FECAFEB in 1991, laying the groundwork for a more connected and resilient coffee sector.

Today, as much as 85–95% of Bolivia’s coffee is grown by smallholders cultivating just 1–8 hectares each. These are family farms, often passed down through generations, where coffee is woven into daily life.

In the 1950s and 60s, sawmills carved roads into the mountains — infrastructure that would later become essential for moving coffee out of remote communities. By 1990, with support from USAID initiatives aimed at providing alternatives to coca cultivation, Bolivian coffee reached its first major peak. Farmers gained access to training, seedlings, and resources that helped stabilise production and improve quality.

The industry faced another setback in 2008 during a period of political unrest, but Bolivian coffee has always been defined by resilience. Since 2019, a remarkable resurgence has taken hold, fuelled by rising domestic coffee consumption and a new generation of producers eager to build on the legacy of their parents and grandparents.

This lot comes from members of APROCAFE, a cooperative founded in 2000 with just 35 producers. From the beginning, APROCAFE focused on improving incomes and securing organic and Fairtrade certifications — tools that helped farmers access better markets and build long‑term stability.

Today, APROCAFE’s producers are spread across Caranavi, with many based in the communities of Uchumachi and Calama. Their coffees reflect the landscape they come from: high‑altitude farms, cool nights, rich soils, and a deep cultural connection to the land.