Bolivia is a notoriously difficult place to buy and export high-quality coffee. One of the biggest challenges is the transportation of coffee. From the farm, to the dry mill, to shipping in a timely fashion—and at the right humidity level—getting this coffee to us is no small matter.

Those who know and love Bolivian coffees from this region know of the challenges of trucking up the mountains on the "Death Road of Coroico" to the dry, high-altitude city of El Alto. In recent years, the "Death Road" has been improved and an alternate route avoids the road altogether, but it still presents its own difficulties and very real risk to travelers. 

We've purchased from the Central Asociados de Productores de Café (CENAPROC) cooperative in Bolivia since 2006, and, each year, we refine the process to get the best coffees. In some years, the harvest is entirely milled and dried on-farm, while in others, the central washing station and drying patio have been used. A continued shift away from the central mill was primarily the result of a lower harvest cycle that does not require the capacity and efficiency of a large mill. The cooperative continues to push standards for quality, drying coffee more consistently and checking moisture thresholds before coffee is sent to El Alto—the location of the dry mill and export warehouse. The co-op also works closely with a cupping lab in La Paz to sort through the many single-farmer lots to maintain quality. This work helps with coffee selection and addressing issues early in the season—setting the stage for better coffee and timely export.  

CENAPROC was founded in 1992 and is one of the most-recognized cooperatives in the region. Currently, the cooperative has approximately 48 members that come from three main areas close to their wet mill in Caranavi: Nueva Llusta, Nueva Canaan, and Libertador. CENAPROC has won awards in the Bolivian Cup of Excellence competition numerous times since 2004.