Our friends at Cafe Imports have been working in Colombia for 20+ years, through civil unrest in the coffee-growing regions.  They maintain a strong partnership with Banexport  and together they've created "Best of Colombia", a regional competition to highlight the best, and brightest within several of the country’s specific growing areas, predominantly Cauca, Tolima, Nariño, and Huila. 2022 saw more submissions than ever and the BOC #1 went to a woman producer for the first year ever!

Best Cup participants  cup through and rank the top 15 microlots, as well as have the opportunity to taste and select FCL workhorse, Regional Select, and Variety Select coffees in an attempt to support the supply chain and to assist roasters in building their menus for the coming harvest season.

The auction is usually in Popayán and is attended by hundreds of producers in an outdoor arena that's open to the public.  You can hear the event from city blocks away.  Aguardiente flows like water, local singers and dancers perform on a live stage, and international buyers from all around the world compete for the best lots. 

The money raised from this event guarantees that award winning farmers will be rewarded nicely for their quality coffees. Green-buyer, Amy Pope, has traveled to Colombia with Café Imports three times and has seen over time how farmers use their large gains to develop infrastructure.  Colombia is a very important origin for us, it's one of the most beautiful countries with a cultural and natural richness unparalleled, yet farmers still struggle to protect their fields and to stay safe.  Colombian coffees carry a post-conflict premium; an attempt to assist farmers in transition from coca markets to international coffee markets.  For them, this is a transition from the black market to legal markets, meaning they can run for political offices and take greater charge of their wellbeing in risky areas.

We're so excited about this coffee, we're also including a Chiva Bus Spotify playlist!  Green-buyer, Amy Pope, Shazam'd the tunes being played on the bus so that we could deliver straight to you, the Colombian vibe!  

Enjoy these tunes with each sip!