Colombia CoSurCa

Nestled in southwest Colombia, Cauca stands out globally as a coffee-growing gem. With its rich volcanic soil, this region offers a nurturing terroir where coffee plants thrive. Cauca’s coffee farms are between 1,700 and 2,200 meters above sea level, where cooler temperatures slow the maturation of coffee cherries. This gradual pace allows for complex, delightful flavors to develop fully – each cup a testament to the tropical, Andean land.

What truly sets this coffee apart are the women who grow it. This high-end coffee comes to us from the Café Femenino® initiative, founded in 2004 within CoSurCa (Cooperativa del Sur del Cauca) – a sustainable development farming cooperative, established as alternatives to illicit crops.

Cafe Feminino Colombia began as a bold step toward empowerment in a region where social stigmas often kept women from leaving their homes. Initially, many hesitated to join, held back not only by these norms, but also a lack of confidence. But as the gatherings of these women grew, they began to gain power and recognition in their communities. The women of Cafe Feminio Colombia control the additional revenue of their coffee production and use it to fund community projects as well as training on farm management, gender equality, leadership, health, and food security.

Today, the Café Femenino Colombia program proudly supports 438 female coffee producers. For over twenty years, this program has empowered women in coffee agriculture while upholding the highest standards of quality and sustainability. Zingerman’s Coffee Company is proud to help empower the women of CoSurca; a portion of the proceeds from this coffee go toward sponsoring a project to bring internet capabilities to their community.

At Zingerman’s, we know every great food has a story, and the story of Cauca is one of resilience, community, and exceptional flavor. Join us in savoring this unique roast and the incredible women who make it possible!