Country of Origin:
Colombia - Santander

Coffee Variety:
100% Arabica: Castillo & Colombia

Processing Method:
washed & CO2 decaf

Flavor Profile:
Cane sugar, chocolate, and dried fruit.

Espresso Brewing Method:
Espresso machine, fully automatic machine, espresso pot, and with milk.

Certification:
Organic.

Meet the coffee farmers:
Coffee farmers: 7 farmers in the Santander region
Coffee: Colombia Organic, 100% organic, certified organic
Farm: Individual plantations around San Gil Location: Santander region, Colombia

The coffee farmers
In Santander, we work with 7 farmers who grow coffee organically out of a personal commitment to sustainable living, each on their own plantation around San Gil.* Their farms are Rainforest Alliance-certified, and through our long-standing partnership with the National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers (FNC), they receive fair compensation for their coffee. We also use our own bonus system to reward coffee of 85+ and 86+ quality (watch the video).

The Producer and the Coffee
At altitudes ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 meters in the lush hills of Santander, the landscape resembles a jungle more than a farm field. Dense vegetation and tall shade trees protect the coffee plants from the harsh sun and drought, and provide a home for more than a hundred species of birds. For fertilization, the farmers mainly use chicken manure and process coffee cherries themselves into fertilizer. The soil is never treated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides—the seven farmers each cultivate their own plot of land, scattered around San Gil.
This method of farming also comes at a cost: organic farming yields about 40% less, requires four times as much manure, and takes twice as much effort. Yet these farmers consciously choose not to use synthetic fertilizers. For them, the plantation is not a means of production, but land they treat with care—with an eye toward the generations that will come after them.

Organization
The seven farmers in Santander no longer farm together within a single cooperative, but each on their own plantation around San Gil. Through the National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers (FNC), they are guaranteed a fair price, and with BOOT, they have their own bonus system for coffee of 85+ and 86+ quality

How is this coffee decaffeinated?
BOOT deliberately chooses a completely natural and certified organic process to decaffeinate coffee. In 1988, our partner developed a patented method that uses natural carbon dioxide (CO2) at relatively low temperatures and pressures. This exceptionally gentle process ensures effective separation of caffeine and guarantees that the coffee components responsible for aroma and flavor are largely preserved. No chemicals are used during this process, which preserves the coffee’s natural quality.

*For years, you’ve known this coffee (and our decaffeinated Colombia Organic) under the name Kachalú. That name is now being removed from our packaging: the cooperative of about 60 farmers we worked with disbanded due to stricter regulations surrounding organic certification, and a disagreement arose over the use of the name itself. The smaller farmers joined another organic group; these 7 farmers, who already supplied the majority of our coffee, continued on their own. Kachalú is therefore being removed from our label so that it remains an accurate representation of where our coffee comes from.

Downloads:

BOOT Coffee Brew Guide (PDF)