Colombia - Inza Cauca (Single Origin)

The municipality of Inzáis located in the corner of the Department of Cauca, bordering with Tolima and Huila andlooking out to the west over the Pacific Ocean. Situated on the “Macizo Colombiano” (the Colombian Plateau), whichsurrounds the high peaks of Tolima and Huila, the region is an important source of water and wildlife, in addition to being prime coffee growing land. This coffee was produced by 52 smallholder coffee producers hailing from the neighbouring sub-municipalities of Pedregal (70%) and San Antonio (30%). Everysingle microlotdelivered was cupped and reserved due to its scoring 85 points or above bythe community cupping lab, funded by Mercanta Exporting Partners, Pergamino, who are based in the Department of Antioquia. These stringent standards result in very limited quantities of this exceptional blend of 70%+Caturra and approx 30% Variedad Colombia being made available for export. Cauca’s violent past, with a heavy presence of FARC guerrillas, had historically preventedthe FNC (Colombia’sexcellent national coffee board) and specialty-focused exporters from establishing a presence in the region. As violence has diminished, it has enabled the growers in the region to seek increased access to markets for quality, not only taking advantage of the region’s wonderful coffee-growing conditions but also the economic resource that near by tourist destinations bring (for instance, the World Heritage Site“ Parque Nacional Arqueológico de Tierradentro”). We found out about this coffee through our good friendsat Pergamino, who serve it in their own flagship specialty café in Medellin. Like all producers in Colombia, Pergamino spent many years helplessly riding the roller coaster of international coffee prices. They had to invest, year after year, in their crops without knowing what price they would secure. As the saying goes in Colombia, there were years of lean cows and years of fat cows–the former being more common than the latter. They often sold their coffee to large exporters, never understanding its unique sensory coffees, nor in whose hands it ended up for what price. When they began selling their coffee directly to importers and roasters, everything changed. When they extended the model to small holder farmers in Antioquia, they also changed everything forthem. Today, Pergamino works with more than 600 smallholder farmers in four Departments (Cauca, Antioquia, Huila and Nariño), and their influence continues to grow. They have developed the relationship with the communities over time, providing invaluable feedback on quality and training in quality assessment. They are committed to transparency in their partnerships with these farmers, ensuring that profit margins are clear and that value added by quality goesdirectly to the producer. The premiums that Pergamino pays (and that Mercanta pays) range from 30-300% overmarket prices (depending on cupping score and volume). They also provide technical assistance so that farmers cancontinue to improve crop quality. Specifically in Cauca, they have launched a new pilot project with the Pillimue family in San Antonio, from where this coffee was sourced. In order to offer up market access more widely in the regionand to put more control in the hands of local people, the family (who has long supplied coffee to Pergamino from their various family member farms) has opened a small warehouse and cupping lab with funding from Pergamino. They act as logistics and sourcing partners and are able to provide quality assessment services for nearly 150 families in the area, which is far more impactful than any other regional association in the area, reaching not just San Antonio, but now also the towns of Belen, LaPalmera, Aguablanca, Pedregal, Palmichal, San Jose and Santa Teresa. Most importantly, the Pillimue/Pergamino partnership enables more families than ever before to access higher prices by placing coffee on the specialty market. During the harvest season, Pergamino has committed to monthly visits to the group in order to cup and advise on quality. All coffee produced by the group that cups at 85+ points will be purchased, and higher scoring lots may be held aside as microlots to be marketed under the farmer/family’s own name.

Our Promise

Crude Drinks complies with all UK laws including the distance selling law. All parcels shipped by Crude Drinks are quality checked prior to packing for any damages or defects. No damaged or defective items are sent out to you without prior notification to you, the receiving customer. 

 

If you have received a damaged, defective, incorrect or unwanted parcel follow the procedures below.

 

Damaged and Defective Goods

In the event of receiving a damaged product, if the product is broken or has leaked, you can refuse signing for it. Subsequently if you open the parcel and find that the product is damaged or has leaked then you will need to provide evidence in the form of photographs. Customers must provide evidence within 21 days from dispatch of your goods. After which period the product will become ineligible for a refund. Customers will need to contact and send evidence to our customer service team (orders@crudedrinks.co.uk) who will assist in either issuing a full refund (including all shipping costs) or send out a replacement product. You will be advised by our customer services team to dispose the products safely.

 

Incorrect, Unwanted Goods or Non-Collected Goods

You, as our customer, have up to 14 days from arrival of your goods to return an unwanted product back to Crude Drinks. Even if the product you ordered is part of a multiple item order.

 

You will need to contact customer services (orders@crudedrinks.co.uk) to arrange returning any goods received.

You will be responsible for:

1) Not opening the products, such as coffee bags or cans.
2) Keep intact any accessory or details associated to the package. 
3) Contact us to arrange a return (orders@crudedrinks.co.uk)
4) Re-pack the products as they were received. 
5) All postage / shipping costs.

 

If the unwanted or incorrect product received by Crude Drinks is of a satisfactory condition or the product you received is incorrect then Crude Drinks will, by your request:

1) Issue a full refund excluding all original delivery charges paid, unless you received an incorrect item.
2) Send out the correct or a replacement product with the same delivery terms as the original order.

 

Please note that if goods are returned back to our depot due to non-collection from the courier/Post Office or if a delivery attempt had been made then we will not be able to refund the cost of shipping or any returns cost that are incurred by ourselves from our couriers. You have the right to make a claim with the courier or the delivery company. 

All orders are shipped within 2 working days, to be received within 3-5 working days of ordering.

Most of our orders are shipped via Royal Mail, but occasionally we will ship via UPS courier service, depending on the total weight.

If you have had any issues with delivery, please let us know so that we can try to improve in the future: orders@crudedrinks.co.uk

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From time to time, the origin and/or farm of the coffee you have chosen may change, however we will always aim for replacements with a similar flavour profile and process. This is due to the seasonal nature of coffee production, as we try to manage the same quality and price throughout the year.

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We hope you enjoy the coffee you receive from us, and if you have any questions then feel free to get in touch!