{"title":"Green Coffee","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnroasted coffee for home roasters or cafe microroasters. Sharing the love from our supply chains with a transparent margin. DO NOT attempt to grind or brew this coffee unroasted.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"brazil-futures-green","title":"Brazil Futures GREEN","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the most 'standard' tasting coffee on our menu, but perhaps the one we're most excited about. We've been looking to increase our Brazil buying impact for the 5 years since we started Skylark. Circumstances conspired to make this the perfect year for it. We love a lot of things about Brazil as a coffee origin: It has a strong minimum wage, a strong domestic consumption market to support producers, and we have more than a decade's worth of relationships and buying experience there. This Brazil 'Futures' is a new product line for Skylark that will keep a consistent flavor profile of Melted Chocolate and Macademia whilst sourcing from various smallholder farmers who can benefit from partnering with Skylark. You can read more about the mechanisms we're using below. It's a little nerdy, but \u003cem\u003every\u003c\/em\u003e cool. We think you'll love it... It's the perfect 'coffee flavored coffee' with a big dose of impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1000 Meters above Sea Level (average)\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: Various\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 82\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £7.50\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Fully natural, cherries are sorted, then dried on patios\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about the entire deal down below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReplacing good with great\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’re moving away from our most purchased coffee, our go-to Brazil Santa Rosa that’s always been our best value for money. Why would we do that? Because we think we’ve found a way to get better \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003evalues\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e for our money. This week, we’re launching a new core Brazil that is more chocolatey, affordable in this market, and delivers a far greater impact for farmers and the environment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’re calling this coffee Brazil Futures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — it’s about financial security for the people who grow it. As a core ingredient in all our blends, this coffee can reach a lot of people in the supply chain and among coffee drinkers too.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere’s how it works: Brazil Futures comes from small family farms, which are typically more ecologically sustainable than Brazil’s large coffee plantations. The growers are members of a small and relatively unknown association called Associação da Barra, and we’ve sourced the coffee through \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/minasul.com.br\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMinasul\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a medium-sized cooperative that is very clever about using coffee “futures” contracts to empower producers, not just themselves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to solve farmers staying poor while the market goes up\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou might have heard; the price for green coffee is the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/perfectdailygrind.com\/2025\/02\/coffee-prices-record-highs-roasters\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehighest it’s ever been\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – almost 3 times the average price of the last 15 years. This is causing chaos in the coffee industry, and those futures contracts play a key role. What follows is a little technical, but complex problems require some explanation, so here we go:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll coffee is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@bramdehoog\/how-the-c-market-shapes-coffee-pricing-and-the-global-supply-chain-f7249781b4ff\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebought and sold\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on the Futures or ‘C’ market at the stock exchange in New York. Historically, this has been used to make stock-traders and big corporations rich while keeping coffee prices low and farmers poor. Since the price for coffee has recently tripled, however, some of the biggest coffee traders in the world are in trouble essentially because papering over bad ‘futures’ bets and rapid growth speculation takes cash, and that’s in short supply with each sack of coffee costing 2-3x what it did 16 months ago. We’re seeing exporter\/importers sell out to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/deals\/olam-sell-446-stake-agribusiness-saudi-arabia-18-billion-2025-02-23\/#:~:text=Feb%2024%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20Saudi,the%20companies%20said%20on%20Monday.\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSaudi wealth funds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worldcoffeeportal.com\/Latest\/News\/2024\/August\/New-York-based-Hartree-Partners-to-acquire-Volcafe\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoil companies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or file for bankruptcy protection including the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bnnbloomberg.ca\/investing\/commodities\/2024\/12\/04\/brazil-judge-rules-against-coffee-exporters-facing-debt-crisis\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eexporting partners\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e we used to work with in Brazil. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeanwhile, small producers struggle the most in volatile markets so this is a key moment to choose our partners carefully and protect the less advantaged.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnlocking market power\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere at Skylark, we’re now big enough to buy full shipping containers of Brazilian coffee, which unlocks a new phase of work with trusted partners like Minasul to increase our impact beyond just what we pay for coffee. Instead of using the futures market to speculate for their own profit, Minasul allows farmers to convert their coffee from futures contracts into physical coffee (and vice versa) at a time that benefits them, much like stock traders do. This is unusual, and means that smaller farmers have more control and can boost their income in ways that they wouldn’t otherwise be able. Minasul also sells most of their coffee within Brazil rather than exporting. This means that their business is more stable, and allows them to access quick cash to pay farmers promptly – a huge deal if you’re a coffee grower.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoth Minasul and Skylark are also paying premiums to the farmers as well as donating some much needed equipment and tech for the growers’ cooperative. We’ll be increasing these donations throughout the coming years using our pledge to put £1 per kilo sold into grower empowerment projects. We’re then importing the coffee through our friends at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.falconcoffees.com\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFalcon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e who understand the work we’re doing at Skylark and brilliantly support these kinds of arrangements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eEnvironmental potential\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe final argument for Brazil Futures centres on the ecological advantage of small family farms, whether certified organic or not. One of the growers, Arcanjo Alexadre Alves, is carrying on a type of attentive farming begun by his grandfather in the 1980s. Another, Afonso Donizetti Silva, began with just 145 coffee trees, producing 4 bags of coffee (two for him, two for his wife). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese are the kinds of smallholders we’d like to support while buying a large percentage of their total production.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDon’t get us wrong – our longstanding Brazil Santa Rosa was an affordable coffee from a large-scale producer that pays workers well and offsets carbon emissions. That was good! But it seems more ‘Skylark’ to support farmers with less of their own security. That’s even better.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWelcome to Brazil Futures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brazil","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56511047467394,"sku":null,"price":16.25,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56511047893378,"sku":null,"price":107.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/IMG_20170724_090406328_HDR_69f6129b-693a-4665-bb6c-f12394de4eb0.jpg?v=1684402621"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-bette-buna-natural-green","title":"Ethiopia Bette Buna Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe try to work closely with all of our producing partners, but none more closely than our friends at \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"www.bettebuna.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBette Buna\u003c\/a\u003e. Skylark donates about £10,000 per year to support Bette Buna's goal of improving livelihoods and working conditions in Ethiopia, and two of our team members even work part-time for Bette Buna because we think it’s critical to give their social projects every chance to succeed. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is our ‘house coffee’ from Bette Buna that we’ll try to stock year-round. It’s got tasty notes of milk chocolate, almond, and cherry pie, and it’s the perfect affordable daily drinking coffee that also supports brilliant work in one of the least-advantaged coffee producing communities in the world. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe contracted with Bette Buna for 100 bags of this coffee before it was harvested. When we cupped it, it was WAY better than we expected, so we changed our order to 150 bags and voluntarily increased our price per kilo to fully compensate the producers for their splendid work. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a bit more about Bette Buna, check out our blog post \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/weve-never-seen-ethiopia-like-this\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e or read on below ...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetta Buna was founded by partners Hester Westerveld-Syoum and Dawit Syoum when they inherited their grandfather’s tiny family farm in Taferi Kela, Sidamo. With a background in NGO and development work, they decided to grow and scale the farm as the foundation for a larger company with greater impact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHaving started in 2019, they have already grown considerably. They have expanded the Taferi Kela farm from 2 to 50 hectares and have spread to a second 50-hectare farm in Megadu, Guji. Both farms have tree nurseries where climate change-resistant varietals are grown to share with surrounding farmers. Similarly, they have facilities where they not only process their own lots but also educate other farmers in processing techniques, while their Coffee Campus programme provides training in roasting, brewing, and even exporting. They provide countless opportunities for their farming communities by not only teaching and motivating farmers but also hiring local workers at their nurseries and mills, including single mothers and disabled people who would struggle to find employment elsewhere. They also work hard to incorporate sustainable farming methods, rewild forests on their land, and protect local wildlife to promote ecosystem health for coming generations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTo create this lot, fresh cherries were hand-sorted by each farmer to clean out underripe\/overripe cherries and any leaves or sticks. The sorted cherries were dried on African raised beds for about 20-25 days until they reached the right moisture level. The raised beds are important to facilitate airflow to ensure equal drying of each cherry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dry cherries, still in their natural hulls, were bagged and moved to the Bette Buna mill in Megadu. There the natural lots rest for a minimum of 8 weeks after bagging to improve the complexity and intensity of each cup profile. Each coffee was evaluated in the lab and a decision was made about which “sub-lots” could work as a community blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter dry milling locally to remove the hulls, another round of hand sorting by the milling team removed defects. After that, the bags of green coffee were loaded on a truck to take a 3-5 day drive to the main Bette Buna dry mill in Gelan. Here the cherries underwent another round of cleaning, screening on size and density, and color sorting, and were bagged a final time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lot is a blend of cherries from Bette Buna’s own farm and community farmer Wodera.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2000-2200\u003c\/span\u003e MASL\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e74112, 74158, Wild Guji Megadu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 86\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £7.10\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethiopia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56519315652994,"sku":null,"price":15.65,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56519318929794,"sku":null,"price":102.3,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Bette_Buna.jpg?v=1755097767"},{"product_id":"costa-rica-aquiares-washed-green","title":"Costa Rica Aquiares Washed GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosta Rican coffee (and Central American coffees in general) often represent a lot of the things we dislike about the coffee supply chain. Way too many farms in Central America are owned by wealthy Westerners who have access to capital and marketing that allows them to sell their coffees at prices that indigenous people could never achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is different, and it represents the sort of de-colonisation of the coffee supply chain that we want to support. Aquiares is a Costa Rican legacy farm, and they've set an absolute gold standard in how they treat people and the planet. The way they increase biodiversity, capture carbon, and care for both Costa Rican and refugee workers is a testament to how coffee CAN change the world. They also produce delicious, consistent coffee like this one, with notes of chocolate, hazelnut, and ripe plum. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eCheck out more of the incredible work they're doing by reading on below!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've bought coffee from Aquiares since our first year at Skylark, but we are delighted to partner with them more fully for the first time in 2025, and for the foreseeable future. We plan to have their coffee on offer year-round as a staple of our list in order to support the amazing work they do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares, one of Costa Rica’s largest and most historic coffee farms, sits high on the fertile slopes of Turrialba Volcano. Producing coffee continuously for over a century, the farm has developed an enduring model for growing high-quality Arabica coffee, protecting a stunning natural setting, and supporting a thriving local community of 1,800 people. Established by British farmers in 1890, Aquiares was one of the first estates to produce and export Costa Rican coffee. In 1971, the farm was purchased by its current owners, three families who have worked together with the farm's staff and community to implement a modern model of sustainable agriculture. Don Alfonso took over farm management in 1992, and at the time he was new(ish) to coffee. However, one thread throughout his life has been a commitment to social justice. From the beginning, Don Alfonso made the social welfare of farm workers and the wider community one of his main priorities. His dedication has transformed the farm and the region. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe community of Aquiares, originally created to house workers on the estate, sits in the midst of the farm. When it was built, the farm owned the houses where employees lived, creating home insecurity amongst working families. In 1992, under Don Alfonso’s management, the farm started a project to enable people to own their own houses. Each worker was given a bonus for his or her years of service, lots were priced at a fraction of the local rate, and assistance was given to apply for the government house fund. In the beginning, workers thought it was too good to be true, but as the first families obtained their own homes, everyone followed suit. In a matter of three years, the town was brought to life, enriched with a deep feeling of security and achievement. Today, only around 15% of Aquiares residents work on the farm (many have gone on to become schoolteachers, doctors, etc) and 96% of these own their own home, giving them the option to take a path for their future that they, themselves, choose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll Aquiares coffee is picked by hand to ensure consistent high quality. Microlots, such as this one, are picked by a special team of skilled harvesters who are paid well above the daily rate for their exceptional skill in picking the ripest cherries at each pass. Each tree is visited up to seven times during the harvest to ensure that only fully red ripe cherries are picked. The skilled hands of the pickers represent the farm’s most valuable asset. Pickers hail from the community of Aquiares, nearby towns, and even from the neighbouring country of Nicaragua. The farm ensures that all workers have a safe work environment and a comfortable place to live. Workers coming from further away can live in on-site housing and use a children’s daycare. The farm sponsors doctors’ visits for pickers and their families twice a week where nutritional health advice is also given. To take better care of its field workers, Aquiares has established first-of-its-kind physical therapy sessions and also a daily warm-up routine of exercise before work. Many pickers return each year, confirming success in providing a secure home in Aquiares.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares is strongly committed to and has become an international leader in environmental sustainability. The farm has long seen the connection between agricultural, environmental, and social health. By planting more than 50,000 shade trees, creating natural buffers around streams and water springs, preserving the river valleys as forests, planting along the contour, implementing integrated pest management systems, and many other steps, Aquiares has demonstrated how to make ecological ideals a reality. For example, given that soil health is the most important factor for a successful farm, Aquiares takes many steps to naturally improve the farm’s volcanic soil. The organic matter from pruning and the leaf litter from the coffee and shade trees are left to feed soil microbes and provide organic nutrients. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe diversified shade trees (over 40 species) also cool the ground, slowing the ripening of the coffee, which allows for sugars from the mucilage to be fully absorbed by the bean, thus improving cup quality. The farm’s agricultural objective is to find synergies like these, where environmental health translates into coffee plant health, which ultimately contributes to long-term stability in the production of high-quality coffee. The farm’s terrain varies from gently sloping to steep hills. Valleys between hills create microclimates that are ideal for growing mainly Caturra and grafted Arabica-Nemaya varieties. Although Aquiares is considered large under Central American standards, the farm’s belief is that it is crucial to tend to every individual coffee plant’s needs. Therefore, Aquiares utilizes a system of pruning each plant independently, instead of pruning by row or lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough an intensive rehabilitation program, Aquiares has re-planted more than 400,000 coffee trees in small patches of existing fields. This rejuvenated the crop of trees and increased the land’s utilization. It also played a crucial role in the 2012 rust attack, as young plants resisted the disease better, slowing its spread. Its stringent environmental stewardship enabled the farm to achieve Rainforest Alliance Certification in 2003. In 2012, Aquiares became the first farm in Costa Rica to fulfill the requirements of the Rainforest Alliance Climate Module. This requires adhering to careful standards of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, which are meticulously tracked through each harvest season. This certification demonstrates that the farm’s low emissions do not meaningfully contribute to climate change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 800-1400 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Obata\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 85\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £8.25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Fully washed\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Costa Rica","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56519368212866,"sku":null,"price":17.38,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56519369458050,"sku":null,"price":117.25,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/AquiaresEstate_Waterfall_74ca91df-db37-4bf7-93ca-472cf3bc979e.jpg?v=1755770225"},{"product_id":"colombia-chapata-natural-green","title":"Colombia Chapata Natural GREEN - Earthquake Relief","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHey folks! Our offer list has always had 6-16 different Colombian coffees at any given time. We've all benefitted massively from the affordable and delicious coffees coming out of Colombia year in and year out. \u003cstrong\u003eRight now, Colombian producers need our help in the aftermath of the colossal earthquake they suffered on August 10th.\u003c\/strong\u003e Our dear friends and partners at Fundación Apuna \u0026amp; Siruma Coffee who source Chapata for us have started a disaster relief fund for smallholders who have been affected. \u003cstrong\u003e£1 per bag of this coffee sold will be donated to this fund (alongside additional money from the general Skylark Uplift Fund).\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA perennial fan pick, Chapata is one of our favourite relationship coffees from Colombia. We’ve been buying a large quantity of this coffee for 6 years now, and our partners Siruma x Falcon are doing brilliant sustainability and educational work on the ground in this region of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis fresh-crop Chapata is one of the most sugary coffees we'll have, with unusually clean tropical fruit notes of mango and papaya along with candied tamarind paste. If you're looking for the sweet explosion of the season with a little less funk, get this one! It's a unique chance to experience these tropical notes without much booziness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe're honoured to work with our importing friends at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.falconcoffees.com\/\"\u003eFalcon\u003c\/a\u003e, who are always looking for ways to support small Colombian coffee farmers. Since 2021, they've linked with Colombian exporter Siruma to provide training, price transparency, and accessibility to smallholder farmers across Colombia, especially those in remote areas. It's especially valuable for these farmers to receive education on the business of speciality coffee. The more knowledge they have, the more they can advocate for themselves and their products in the coffee market. Chapata was purchased as a part of this ongoing project. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"tabs__paragraph\"\u003eFor this lot, cleaned and ripe cherries were placed in baskets in a temperature-controlled room to support the aerobic process for 24-36 hours. The basket holes allow for the free circulation of all oxygen and CO2 that are produced during fermentation. The coffee was then relocated to a mechanical drying system, maintaining a temperature between 35-40 degrees Celsius until reaching a moisture level of 10-11%. After drying, the coffee was de-hulled and packed in GrainPro bags to stabilise for 15 days, with each processed batch kept separate to ensure careful management of every phase.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1800 Meters Above Sea Level\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eCastillo, Colombia, Caturra\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 87.5\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £10.05 plus £1 donated per bag sold.\u003cbr\u003eProcess: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFully natural in mechanical cold dryers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote: We normally would have reduced the price of this coffee due to us paying a bit less this harvest, but we've kept it at £13.50 to support this donation.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56519549616514,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56519550566786,"sku":null,"price":155.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Anserma6_20506be6-9ac1-4ab6-895d-453863f8599a.jpg?v=1772710937"},{"product_id":"colombia-edinson-argote-peach-melba-green","title":"Colombia Edinson Argote Peach Melba GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAllergy warning: this coffee was processed using peach juice and pulp, so it should not be consumed by anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to peaches. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThose of you familiar with Edinson Argote's pink and orange bourbons from earlier this year will know his coffees are always a force to be reckoned with. We're in awe of his tenacity and innovative processing styles that create incredibly delicious coffees, and this peach co-ferment is no exception.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're craving something loud and juicy, look no further! This coffee is practically exploding with peachy goodness, but there's a bit of nuance there as well ... sweet notes of raspberry and vanilla tie it all together to create a bold Peach Melba experience you won't soon forget.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eEdinson Argote and Ángela Rojas recently joined forces to create the Quebraditas Project, which includes two farms – Chorro Alto and Quebraditas. Ángela had originally left the countryside to study nursing, but ultimately returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic to exchange her nursing career for a life in coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is from Quebraditas, their family-run farm dedicated to producing premium coffee with standout and reproducible sensory profiles thanks to innovative fermentation processes, including thermal shock and yeast inoculation. They also focus on agronomic management and soil care (strategic shading, use of organic matter, maintenance of soil pH and calcium) that allows them to increase the potential of each crop. Ángela manages the administration, while Edinson oversees coffee processing and farm operations. They also collaborate with two other farms – one in La Plata, which grows varieties such as Sidra and SL28, and another in the Argentina region, while additionally purchasing coffee cherries from San Adolfo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir coffee farms are located at an altitude of 1600-1850 meters above sea level in the central Huila Mountains. These farms cover 18 hectares, and while most of the land is planted with traditional varieties such as Caturra and Colombia, at least 1 hectare is reserved exclusively for special varieties, including Eugenoides, Bourbon Pointu, Geisha, Java, Bourbon Chiroso, Wush Wush, Bourbon Ají, Papayo, Pacamara, Sudan Rume, and Arará. The vision is to eventually grow only these non-traditional varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo process this lot, cherries were floated to remove green, overripe, and dry cherry.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eIt was then oxidised in food-grade plastic drums for 12 hours and depulped without using water. After fermenting for 24 hours in an open tank to remove mucilage, fermentation continued for 72 hours \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eat temperatures below 25°C with a mix of ripe peach and specific yeasts. After fermentation, the coffee was washed and dried for 42 hours at 38°C. Finally, it was stabilised and prepared for transport in GrainPro-type bags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1850 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Caturra\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £17.95\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Peach Co-Fermented\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56520418197890,"sku":null,"price":31.93,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56520419672450,"sku":null,"price":234.38,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Edison-Argote1-1.jpg?v=1772734657"},{"product_id":"mexico-guerrero-biodynamic-natural-green","title":"Mexico Guerrero Biodynamic Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- wp:paragraph --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of our most important coffees of the year. Mexican coffee has dwindled to almost nothing in recent years as a result of coffee leaf rust, low C market prices, political strife, and drug trafficking. Almost all remaining Mexican coffees are grown on large estates in Oaxaca and other well-known provinces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is different. It is from the Guerrero region, and is grown by indigenous people in traditional biodynamic fashion. These coffees are from tiny farms (often less than a hectare) with productions of less than 60 kg from many of them. These farmers' way of life depends on companies like Skylark to support them by paying higher prices than the market would offer for the quality they supply... that's why we bought a really big lot from Guerrero this year. Fortunately, the quality of this particular lot is stellar. Notes of melted milk chocolate, coffee pulp, and Lambrusco will reward you for supporting these farmers along with us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sourced this coffee through Ensambles, who do superlative work to shepherd this coffee from seed to our roasterie. Here's a bit more info from them below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe state of Guerrero is one of Mexico’s 16 coffee-producing states, bordering Oaxaca and Puebla. In Guerrero, 80% of the territory is mountainous, and the main economic activity is agriculture. Coffee was first introduced by the Spanish in Sierra de Atoyac, and most of the labor force for picking coffee was brought over from the poorest areas of Guerrero, a region called Montaña Alta. Those workers, seed by seed, propagated their homes with coffee, bringing it in their pockets from the big plantations in Atoyac. The region is now characterized by the production of shade-grown natural coffees. Guerrero almost exclusively produces naturals, which is rare in Mexico where more than 90% of exported coffee is washed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNowadays, Montaña Alta suffers from high rates of poverty, marginalisation, and migration to the northern states of Mexico and the US as people search for work. In the face of a lack of opportunities, and the growing demand for narcotics in northern countries, a crack in the door was opened for drug trafficking to take over these vulnerable regions. This proliferation of narco-trafficking has unfortunately painted Guerrero in a very unfavorable light, the perception of which is exceedingly difficult to overcome. Because of this context, few companies have invested in the area with regards to the purchasing of coffee. Almost 100% of Guerrero coffee is bought, directly or indirectly, by one single private company, who then resells to a big international buyer. This monopoly has set very low prices for coffee and a general lack of interest from this crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnsambles Cafes Mexicanos began a project focused on specialty coffee in this area back in 2017, a project led by Miguel Guevara, an agronomist originally from Montaña Alta. Miguel has been working with producers to improve quality and help reach out to different markets. Miguel delivers training on selective picking, cherry flotation, and drying. He also supports the project by obtaining regional funds to finance nurseries, local warehouses, raised beds etc. The first producers to join this initiative were all women. Many women in this region are empowered to make decisions because their husbands are living farther north for work. Those women call themselves the “Evas,\" in reference to the first woman Eve. They decided to call the project JUBA, which means 'mountains' in their indigenous language Mephaa. Discontentment with low prices has allowed this project to grow rapidly, increasing from 5 to now 70 producers in 5 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnsambles now has a regional lab in Montaña Alta with analysts and cuppers where producers can come and bring their sample. We provide feedback and recommendations until their coffee qualifies for the specialty premium. Our criteria range from cup quality, humidity\/water activity, to yield. We are now able to employ and empower two women from the community to coordinate the lab and reach out to more producers across the region. \"Nahual\" means the ability to transform yourself into another being. We think it is a good analogy for the switch from commercial low paid coffee to quality better priced coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1400 Meters above Sea Level\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: Oro Azteca\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 84.5\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £9.70\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Grown biodynamically, then processed naturally on raised African beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- \/wp:paragraph --\u003e","brand":"Mexico","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56521014903170,"sku":null,"price":19.55,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56521026601346,"sku":null,"price":136.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/02915bdf-323c-4392-a567-559fc1f86591_1_1c96d159-fad5-4787-af99-e9ae9ef0229b.jpg?v=1689604623"},{"product_id":"twilight-decaf-green","title":"Ethiopia Twilight Decaf GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroducing Twilight, our new all-rounder decaf. It was nearing the end of the day for affordable and delicious decafs on the market, so we decided to get creative. Historically high green coffee prices and increased demand for decafs using the ethyl acetate (‘sugar cane’) process have caused supply shortages and MUCH higher costs, but we don’t think you should have to go without tasty decaf at reasonable prices.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo here’s our strategy: We’re finding less expensive coffees that we think (based on our experience) will make for a sweet, chocolatey decaf. We’re sending them off to be decaffeinated as a special order and bringing them to you at prices that can work for all of us — farmers, cafes, Skylark, and coffee drinkers. With Twilight, you'll get reliably accessible coffee with satisfying notes of chocolate, biscuit, and cherry cola. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTypically, importers make the choices and take the chances on which coffees to decaffeinate. It’s not always easy to predict how a decaffeinated coffee will turn out, and the minimum order for decaffeination is 4 tonnes, so it’s not usually a risk roasters want to take. However, we believe there are plenty of special yet affordable coffees out there that will taste great decaffeinated, so we’re willing to roll the dice. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRight now, Twilight is a washed processed coffee from our friends at Bette Buna in Guji Ethiopia. It was a very fresh crop ‘grade 4’ coffee when we got our hands on it, so the producers paid less for the sorting of the green coffee. We’ve run it through our optical colour sorter to make it more consistent, and it’s tasting delicious. Everybody wins, and we’ll continue looking for opportunities to make decafs with impact throughout our supply chain for the foreseeable future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1400-2100 MASL\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Heirloom\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup Score: 84.75\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per KG: £10.19\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Sugar cane decaf, done in Bremen Germany\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethiopia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56524563349890,"sku":null,"price":20.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56524563743106,"sku":null,"price":142.47,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/IMG_06902.heic?v=1749480437"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-bette-buna-washed-decaf-green","title":"Ethiopia Bette Buna Washed Decaf GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery proudly announcing: Our second round of decaf from our best friends at Bette Buna, and it's a truly special decaf for all you night owls out there. With a juicy, nuanced profile of soft berries, citrus, and toffee, it's delicious on its own or in a milky drink. This coffee is from our favourite Ethiopian coffee producers, Bette Buna, who not only grow exquisite coffee but also provide countless opportunities for people in their communities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe decaffeinated this coffee in partnership with our friends at Falcon Coffee, who did incredible work supporting Bette Buna this year. They took half of this coffee, and we took the other half to split the risk of doing a decaf run.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetta Buna was founded by partners Hester Westerveld-Syoum and Dawit Syoum when they inherited their grandfather’s tiny family farm in Taferi Kela, Sidamo. With a background in NGO and development work, they decided to grow and scale the farm as the foundation for a larger company with greater impact. Coffee is a big deal in Ethiopia: More than 33% of the country's GDP comes from the export of coffee and 80% of that production comes from smallholder farms under 2 hectares, even as 90% of people working in coffee in Ethiopia don’t make a livable income. Bette Buna was formed to meet the obvious need to improve outcomes for smallholders and to generate opportunities for farming communities along the way. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHaving started in 2019, they have already grown considerably. They have expanded the Taferi Kela farm from 2 to 50 hectares and have spread to a second 50-hectare farm in Megadu, Guji, where this lot was grown. Both farms have tree nurseries where varietals are grown for their own use as well as to share with surrounding farmers. Similarly, they have facilities where they process their own lots and educate other farmers in processing techniques while their ‘Coffee Campus’ programme provides training in roasting, brewing, and even exporting. Essentially, they invest in their farming communities not only by teaching and motivating farmers but also by hiring local workers at their nurseries and mills, including single mothers and disabled people who would struggle to find employment elsewhere. They also work hard to incorporate sustainable farming methods, rewild forests on their land, and protect local wildlife to promote ecosystem health for coming generations. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’re such big fans that we sent Micah and Tabitha to help and learn from them for a couple weeks last January. You can read more about their experience in a blog post \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/weve-never-seen-ethiopia-like-this\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehere\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo process this lot, cherries were fully washed, then sun-dried on raised beds for 3.5 weeks to naturally enhance their complexity and sweetness. They were then decaffeinated using the Ethyl Acetate process, a natural and environmentally friendly decaffeination technique. To achieve this technique, green coffee beans are steamed to open their pores, making it easier for caffeine to be extracted. \u003c\/span\u003eThe beans are then washed with ethyl acetate, a naturally occuring compound found in fruit, which selectively binds to caffeine molecules. Ethyl acetate is able to dissolve caffeine without significantly affecting the flavor compounds in the coffee. After the caffeine has been removed, the beans are steamed again to remove any residual ethyl acetate. Finally, the coffee is dried and prepared for roasting.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbove: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSisay Tadesse and Hester Westerveld-Syoum\u003cbr\u003eBelow left: Sisay Tadesse standing next to anaerobic fermentation barrels\u003cbr\u003eBelow right: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eDawit Syoum harvesting ripe coffee cherries\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1,998-2,200 MASL\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: Enat Buna \u0026amp; 74412\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCup score: 85.5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £10.30\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Washed and EA Decaf\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethiopia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56524568625538,"sku":null,"price":20.45,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56524575474050,"sku":null,"price":143.9,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/image0.jpg?v=1756307253"},{"product_id":"colombia-maricela-gesha-natural-green","title":"Colombia Maricela Gesha Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is our most recent coffee from LaReb and THE most intoxicating sugar bomb of the year. It draws you in like the lushest summer fruit juice with the perfect hint of high-quality sugar cane rum. It’s the kind of coffee that gets you overcaffeinated on accident – it’s so moreish that you may not be able to stop drinking it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComrades in the fight against global capitalism tend to find each other, and we were lucky enough to meet Herbert and Matcha from La Real Expedition Botanical through our good friend Alex at \u003ca href=\"www.scenery.coffee\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eScenery\u003c\/a\u003e*. What was supposed to be a quick meet-n-greet with the folks from LaReb turned into a three-hour conversation about making things right in the world. They wholeheartedly share our values of farmer empowerment, decolonising the coffee supply chain, egalitarian workplaces, and of course, delicious coffee!\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTo process this lot, cherry was in-husk rested for 12 hours with a further 60 hours of resting in a closed container, then greenhouse dried for 20 days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Probably our favourite roastery in London, staffed with really lovely people. Check them out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1650 Metres Above Sea Level\u003cstrong\u003e\u2028\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Gesha\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup Score: 90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £32\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Anoxic natural\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(gorgeous lot photos by Herbert of LaReb)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56667174732162,"sku":null,"price":53.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/HPC_1532.jpg?v=1779195932"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-bette-buna-grand-cru-green","title":"Ethiopia Bette Buna Grand Cru GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere's the ‘champagne’ of lots from \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/how-to-support-social-change-without-doing-the-change\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBette Buna\u003c\/a\u003e this year: This beauty was processed using a champagne yeast inoculation. It’s just bursting with sparkling acidity and summery notes of honey mango, Riesling, and elderflower. A refined coffee for the refined palate!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetta Buna was founded by partners Hester Westerveld-Syoum and Dawit Syoum when they inherited their grandfather’s tiny family farm in Taferi Kela, Sidamo. With a background in NGO and development work, they decided to grow and scale the farm as the foundation for a larger company with greater impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarting in 2019, they have now grown considerably, expanding the Taferi Kela farm from 2 to 50 hectares and spreading to a second 50-hectare farm in Megadu, Guji. Both farms have tree nurseries where climate change-resistant varietals are grown to share with surrounding farmers. Similarly, they have facilities where they not only process their own lots but also educate other farmers in processing techniques, while their Coffee Campus programme provides training in roasting, brewing, and even exporting. They provide countless opportunities for their farming communities by not only teaching and motivating farmers but also hiring local workers at their nurseries and mills, including single mothers and disabled people who would struggle to find employment elsewhere. They also prioritise sustainable farming methods, rewild forests on their land, and protect local wildlife to promote ecosystem health for future generations. We're proud to support Bette Buna and plan to partner with them for many years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee began with rigorous cherry selection, where only the ripest cherries were placed in hermetic barrels for controlled fermentation over 96 hours. A selected commercial yeast, supported by sugar and nutrients, guided the process to build complexity while preserving the coffee’s intrinsic character, with close monitoring of pH, temperature, and °Brix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 2100 Metres Above Sea Level\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: Enat Buna, 74158, 74112\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 90\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £24.50\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Champagne yeast natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethiopia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56671374377346,"sku":null,"price":41.75,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56671381946754,"sku":null,"price":328.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/IMG_1442.jpg?v=1778855953"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-buture-washed-green","title":"Ethiopia Buture Washed GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-renderer-start-pos=\"1\"\u003eCoffees from the Jimma region of Ethiopia often get a bit of a bad rap ... They usually aren't the superstars that we find in Guji or Sidamo. Fortunately, even the 'next best' region in Ethiopia produces better coffee than pretty much anywhere else in the world, and it's more affordable to boot! This might be one of the only fresh crop Ethiopians you're going to find out there for under 12 quid, and it's also delightful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-renderer-start-pos=\"1\"\u003eIt's a classic washed Ethiopian coffee, with notes of grapefruit, apricot, and bergamot. It comes from Buture farm, a member of Jimma Union, one of the oldest cooperatives in Ethiopia. They do their job well, producing plenty of delicious coffees while supporting farmers and their communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-renderer-start-pos=\"1\"\u003eWe sourced this coffee through our friends at Falcon. Here's a little more about Jimma Union from their website:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-renderer-start-pos=\"334\"\u003eJimma Farmers Multipurpose Agricultural Cooperative Union (JFMACU) is a well-established cooperative based in Ethiopia's Jimma Zone, part of the Oromia Regional State. It was founded in 2004, starting with 14 primary cooperatives and 7,818 members. Over the years, it has expanded significantly, now consisting of 212 cooperatives and 141,146 farmer members, including 28 coffee-producing cooperatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-renderer-start-pos=\"739\"\u003eThe union operates in prominent coffee-growing areas such as Mana, Kersa, Shebe, Seka Chekorsa, and Mencho, covering 11,073 hectares of production area as of 2023. JFMACU is known for producing high-quality washed and natural coffees that are cultivated at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 2,300 meters above sea level. The region's favorable tropical climate and abundant rainfall contribute to the distinctiveness of its coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-renderer-start-pos=\"1171\"\u003eJFMACU holds certifications such as Organic, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, and Café Practices, reflecting its dedication to sustainable and ethical production. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-renderer-start-pos=\"1479\"\u003eIn addition to coffee production, the union actively supports community development projects. These include constructing schools and health centers, providing clean water, and supporting educational initiatives. Such efforts aim to improve the living standards of farmers and their communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElevation: 1900-2200 Meters Above Sea Level\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: 74110, 74112\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 86\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £9.27\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Washed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethiopia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56750995767682,"sku":null,"price":18.91,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56750998520194,"sku":null,"price":130.51,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/IMG_20171205_142055__1.jpg?v=1749719568"},{"product_id":"brazil-isabela-lima-natural-green","title":"Brazil Isabela Lima Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIsabela Lima Reis placed on the podium with this coffee in the regional competition our co-founder Micah had the honour to help judge. We had to buy this lot to showcase how delicious Brazilian coffee can be! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis prize-winning coffee is surprisingly juicy and sweet, a perfect medley of bright cherry and tropical fruits alongside the smooth depth Brazilian coffees are known for around the world. Vibrant yet chocolatey ... it's a combination that's hard to beat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's not often we get to share the producer's story through their own words, so here's a bit more about the coffee and farm from Isabela herself:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am a granddaughter and daughter of a producer. I have lived and worked all my life on the farm and with that I learned to love it all. The farm is my story, because it is the fruit of my dreams and my achievements. I worked for 37 years on the farm and am always looking for teamwork and various innovations. All we have achieved so far has been with the help of my father, mother, and brother who help us in the management of the farm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mission remains the same - the production of high-quality coffee - but with new times some adjustments have been made: technology, which was scarce in the past, commands history today. The coffees planted in the mountains, on steep terrains, all handpicked, have given way to the flat highlands where the machine plays its role. [Our farm] Bela Vista, however, wants to develop further. The goal is to take coffee to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 920-1080 Meters Above Sea Level\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: Catucai\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 86\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £8.50\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Fully Natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brazil","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56764587868546,"sku":null,"price":17.75,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56764614574466,"sku":null,"price":120.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/20251024_104028.jpg?v=1783443940"},{"product_id":"costa-rica-aquiares-esperanza-natural-green","title":"Costa Rica Aquiares Esperanza Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet another delicious coffee from our friends at Aquiares, Esperanza Natural brings a nuanced creamy fruitiness that you won't want to miss. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosta Rican coffees (and Central American coffees in general) can represent a lot of problematic things about the coffee supply chain: For example, many farms in Central America are owned by wealthy Westerners who have access to capital and marketing that allows them to sell their coffees at prices that indigenous people could never achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is different, and it represents the sort of decolonisation of the coffee supply chain that we want to support. Aquiares is a Costa Rican legacy farm, and they've set an absolute gold standard in how they treat people and the planet. The way they increase biodiversity, capture carbon, and care for both Costa Rican and migrant workers is a testament to how coffee CAN change people's lives. In fact, Diego Robelo is more like a town mayor than a coffee farmer, and our colleague Will recently visited to write about \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/aquiares-not-just-a-costa-rican-coffee-farm\"\u003ethis expansive community\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares also produces delicious, consistent coffees like this one with sweetly balanced notes of strawberry milkshake and tayberry. Juicy and creamy, it's a special treat to have any time of day. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've bought coffee from Aquiares since our first year at Skylark, but we are delighted to partner with them more fully for the first time in 2025 as well as for the foreseeable future. We plan to have their coffee on offer year-round as a staple to support the amazing work they do. Check out more of their story by reading below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares, one of Costa Rica’s largest and most historic coffee farms, sits high on the fertile slopes of Turrialba volcano. Producing coffee continuously for over a century, the farm has developed an enduring model for growing high-quality Arabica coffee, protecting a stunning natural setting, and supporting a thriving local community of 1,800 people. Established by British farmers in 1890, Aquiares was one of the first estates to produce and export Costa Rican coffee. In 1971, the farm was purchased by its current owners, three families who have worked together with the farm's staff and community to implement a modern model of sustainable agriculture. Don Alfonso took over farm management in 1992, and at the time he was new(ish) to coffee. However, one thread throughout his life has been a commitment to social justice. From the beginning, Don Alfonso made the social welfare of farm workers and the wider community one of his main priorities. His dedication has transformed the farm and the region. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe community of Aquiares, originally created to house workers on the estate, sits in the midst of the farm. When it was built, the farm owned the houses where employees lived, creating home insecurity amongst working families. In 1992, under Don Alfonso’s management, the farm started a project to enable people to own their own houses. Each worker received a bonus for his or her years of service, housing plots were priced at a fraction of the local rate, and workers received assistance to apply for the government house fund. In the beginning, this seemed too good to be true, but as the first families obtained their own homes everyone else followed suit. In a matter of three years, the town was brought to life, enriched by security and achievement. Today, only around 15% of Aquiares residents work on the farm (many have gone on to become schoolteachers, doctors, etc.) and 96% of these own their own home, giving them options for the future that they themselves can choose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll Aquiares coffee is picked by hand to ensure consistent high quality. Microlots such as this one are picked by a special team of expert harvesters who are paid well above the daily rate for their exceptional skills. Each tree is visited up to seven times during the harvest to ensure that only fully red ripe cherries are picked. The pickers represent the farm’s most valuable asset. They hail from the community of Aquiares, nearby towns, and even from the neighbouring country of Nicaragua. The farm ensures that all workers have a safe work environment and a comfortable place to live. Workers coming from further away can live in on-site housing and use a children’s daycare. The farm sponsors doctors’ visits for pickers and their families twice a week where nutritional health advice is also given. To take better care of its field workers, Aquiares has established first-of-its-kind physical therapy sessions and also a daily warm-up routine of exercise before work. Many pickers return each year, confirming the success of the model.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares is strongly committed to and has become an international leader in environmental sustainability. The farm has long seen the connection between agricultural, environmental, and social health. By planting more than 50,000 shade trees, creating natural buffers around streams and water springs, preserving the river valleys as forests, planting along the contour lines, implementing integrated pest management systems, and many other steps, Aquiares has demonstrated how to make ecological ideals a reality. For example, since soil health is the most important factor for a successful farm, Aquiares takes many steps to naturally improve the farm’s volcanic soil. The organic matter from pruning and the leaf litter from the coffee and shade trees are left to feed soil microbes and provide organic nutrients. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe diversified shade trees (over 40 species) also cool the ground, slowing the ripening of the coffee, which allows for sugars from the mucilage to be fully absorbed by the bean, thus improving cup quality. The farm’s agricultural objective is to find synergies like these, where environmental health translates into coffee plant health, which ultimately contributes to long-term stability in the production of high-quality coffee. The farm’s terrain varies from gently sloping to steep hills. Valleys between hills create microclimates that are ideal for growing mainly Caturra and grafted Arabica-Nemaya varieties. Although Aquiares is considered large by Central American standards, the farm aims to tend to every individual coffee plant’s needs. Therefore, Aquiares utilizes a system of pruning each plant on its own, instead of pruning by row or by lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough an intensive rehabilitation program, Aquiares has re-planted more than 400,000 coffee trees in small patches of existing fields. This rejuvenated the crop of trees and increased the land’s utilization. It also played a crucial role in the 2012 rust attack, as young plants resisted the disease better, slowing its spread. Stringent environmental stewardship enabled the farm to achieve Rainforest Alliance Certification in 2003. In 2012, Aquiares became the first farm in Costa Rica to fulfill the requirements of the Rainforest Alliance Climate Module. This requires adhering to careful standards of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, which are meticulously tracked through each harvest season. This certification demonstrates that the farm’s low emissions do not meaningfully contribute to climate change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can read more about life at Aquiares \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/aquiares-not-just-a-costa-rican-coffee-farm\"\u003eright here\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 800-1400 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Esperanza\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 87\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £12.70\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Costa Rica","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56764754952578,"sku":null,"price":24.05,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56764827304322,"sku":null,"price":175.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Aquiares_Estate_-_Ally_Coffee_5_3ba77f5a-e7e3-48f1-910c-c21d689a8871.jpg?v=1758022520"},{"product_id":"colombia-imh-risaralda-decaf-green","title":"Colombia IMH Risaralda Decaf GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis decaf is from a Colombian project that promotes greater recognition for women in coffee by providing production training alongside gender equality training in a rural area where these things do not usually co-exist. Igualdad Mujeres Hombres\/Equality Women and Men is a new relationship for us, and we're excited to support IMH producers like Teresa Hurtado and her daughter Angelica (pictured above) by bringing you this tasty decaf!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis decaf coffee is sweet and fruity with just the right amount of gentle acidity. Notes of star fruit and fig mingle with sugary caramel for a vibrant yet mellow finish ... you won't even miss the caffeine. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sourced this coffee through our friends at Raw Material, a non-profit that returns surplus payments to producers. Here's a bit more about IMH in their words:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven the different social and cultural dynamics in the rural areas of Colombia, women have faced multiple barriers to positions of leadership in their own communities and family businesses. In spite of this, women’s work is essential to the sustainability of the coffee supply chain. And though this is commonly understood, many women struggle immensely to achieve management roles or appreciation for their efforts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe women’s group IMH (Igualdad Mujeres Hombres) is an initiative of rural women who are committed to learning all that it takes to produce high-quality specialty coffee. The group are focussed on processing techniques, from picking to drying, with the goal of improving flavour for sale into the specialty market. Igualdad Mujeres Hombres hosts workshops and exchanges between both male and female coffee producers. The goal is to enhance productivity in the long term, encouraging respectful dynamics between men and women in these rural areas of Colombia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir farms are located near the Tatama national park in the northwest of Risaralda, which provides a unique microclimate for high-quality coffee production. Producers in the association are able to access the specialty supply chain, whilst simultaneously creating a respectful environment for women coffee producers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1600-1800 Metres Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Castillo, V. Colombia, Caturra\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 85\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £11.93\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Washed, Ethyl Acetate (sugar cane) decaffeination\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePictured below from top left to bottom right:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProducer Teresa Hurtado on her farm Las Brisas\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProducer Fabiola Mena\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngelica Hurtado\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56795679654274,"sku":null,"price":22.9,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56795688010114,"sku":null,"price":165.09,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/DSC03918.jpg?v=1784013805"},{"product_id":"costa-rica-aquiares-mariana-green","title":"Costa Rica Aquiares Mariana GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosta Rican coffees (and Central American coffees in general) can represent a lot of problematic things about the coffee supply chain: For example, many farms in Central America are owned by wealthy Westerners who have access to capital and marketing that allows them to sell their coffees at prices that indigenous people could never achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is different, and it represents the sort of decolonisation of the coffee supply chain that we want to support. Aquiares is a Costa Rican legacy farm, and they've set an absolute gold standard in how they treat people and the planet. The way they increase biodiversity, capture carbon, and care for both Costa Rican and migrant workers is a testament to how coffee CAN change people's lives. In fact, Diego Robelo is more like a town mayor than a coffee farmer, and our colleague Will recently visited to write about \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/aquiares-not-just-a-costa-rican-coffee-farm\"\u003ethis expansive community\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares also produces delicious, consistent coffees. This is one of their more special lots — a Mariana varietal with sweet, juicy notes of raspberry mousse and coffee pulp. Mariana is a relatively new hybrid varietal and a great example of how coffee farmers today experiment with a wide range of coffee plants to find those that work best in their region as climate change affects traditional growing methods and plant choices. You can also try their equally tasty Esperanza varietal \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/collections\/coffee\/products\/costa-rica-aquiares-esperanza\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've bought coffee from Aquiares since our first year at Skylark, but we've been delighted to partner with them more fully since 2025 and plan to continue for the foreseeable future. We plan to have at least one of their coffees on offer year-round to support the amazing work they do. Check out more of their story by reading below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares, one of Costa Rica’s largest and most historic coffee farms, sits high on the fertile slopes of Turrialba volcano. Producing coffee continuously for over a century, the farm has developed an enduring model for growing high-quality Arabica coffee, protecting a stunning natural setting, and supporting a thriving local community of 1,800 people. Established by British farmers in 1890, Aquiares was one of the first estates to produce and export Costa Rican coffee. In 1971, the farm was purchased by its current owners, three families who have worked together with the farm's staff and community to implement a modern model of sustainable agriculture. Don Alfonso took over farm management in 1992, and at the time he was new(ish) to coffee. However, one thread throughout his life has been a commitment to social justice. From the beginning, Don Alfonso made the social welfare of farm workers and the wider community one of his main priorities. His dedication has transformed the farm and the region. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe community of Aquiares, originally created to house workers on the estate, sits in the midst of the farm. When it was built, the farm owned the houses where employees lived, creating home insecurity amongst working families. In 1992, under Don Alfonso’s management, the farm started a project to enable people to own their own houses. Each worker received a bonus for his or her years of service, housing plots were priced at a fraction of the local rate, and workers received assistance to apply for the government house fund. In the beginning, this seemed too good to be true, but as the first families obtained their own homes everyone else followed suit. In a matter of three years, the town was brought to life, enriched by security and achievement. Today, only around 15% of Aquiares residents work on the farm (many have gone on to become schoolteachers, doctors, etc.) and 96% of these own their own home, giving them options for the future that they themselves can choose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll Aquiares coffee is picked by hand to ensure consistent high quality. Microlots such as this one are picked by a special team of expert harvesters who are paid well above the daily rate for their exceptional skills. Each tree is visited up to seven times during the harvest to ensure that only fully red ripe cherries are picked. The pickers represent the farm’s most valuable asset. They hail from the community of Aquiares, nearby towns, and even from the neighbouring country of Nicaragua. The farm ensures that all workers have a safe work environment and a comfortable place to live. Workers coming from further away can live in on-site housing and use a children’s daycare. The farm sponsors doctors’ visits for pickers and their families twice a week where nutritional health advice is also given. To take better care of its field workers, Aquiares has established first-of-its-kind physical therapy sessions and also a daily warm-up routine of exercise before work. Many pickers return each year, confirming the success of the model.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares is strongly committed to and has become an international leader in environmental sustainability. The farm has long seen the connection between agricultural, environmental, and social health. By planting more than 50,000 shade trees, creating natural buffers around streams and water springs, preserving the river valleys as forests, planting along the contour lines, implementing integrated pest management systems, and many other steps, Aquiares has demonstrated how to make ecological ideals a reality. For example, since soil health is the most important factor for a successful farm, Aquiares takes many steps to naturally improve the farm’s volcanic soil. The organic matter from pruning and the leaf litter from the coffee and shade trees are left to feed soil microbes and provide organic nutrients. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe diversified shade trees (over 40 species) also cool the ground, slowing the ripening of the coffee, which allows for sugars from the mucilage to be fully absorbed by the bean, thus improving cup quality. The farm’s agricultural objective is to find synergies like these, where environmental health translates into coffee plant health, which ultimately contributes to long-term stability in the production of high-quality coffee. The farm’s terrain varies from gently sloping to steep hills. Valleys between hills create microclimates that are ideal for growing mainly Caturra and grafted Arabica-Nemaya varieties. Although Aquiares is considered large by Central American standards, the farm aims to tend to every individual coffee plant’s needs. Therefore, Aquiares utilizes a system of pruning each plant on its own, instead of pruning by row or by lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough an intensive rehabilitation program, Aquiares has re-planted more than 400,000 coffee trees in small patches of existing fields. This rejuvenated the crop of trees and increased the land’s utilization. It also played a crucial role in the 2012 rust attack, as young plants resisted the disease better, slowing its spread. Stringent environmental stewardship enabled the farm to achieve Rainforest Alliance Certification in 2003. In 2012, Aquiares became the first farm in Costa Rica to fulfill the requirements of the Rainforest Alliance Climate Module. This requires adhering to careful standards of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, which are meticulously tracked through each harvest season. This certification demonstrates that the farm’s low emissions do not meaningfully contribute to climate change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can read more about life at Aquiares \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/aquiares-not-just-a-costa-rican-coffee-farm\"\u003eright here\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElevation: 1200 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Mariana\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 87\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £12.70\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Costa Rica","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56809663988098,"sku":null,"price":24.05,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56809667461506,"sku":null,"price":175.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Aquiares_Estate_-_Ally_Coffee_11.jpg?v=1762275010"},{"product_id":"colombia-edinson-argote-orange-bourbon-green","title":"Colombia Edinson Argote Orange Bourbon GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere's a vibrant fan favourite from MiCafe Trading, a small importer that brings coffee to the UK from their own farm (El Jaragual) as well as coffees grown by their friends. This is one of the most remarkable we've received from them so far, and everyone in the team tasting loved it: Em thought it tasted like Aperol Spritz, and Will said it was like Chinotto soda. It's sweet and fun with citrusy notes and the slightest pleasant bitterness (think pink grapefruit).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA year and a half ago, Edinson Argote and Ángela Rojas joined forces to create the Quebraditas project, which includes two farms – Chorro Alto and Quebraditas. Ángela had left her home to study nursing, but ultimately returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to stay, leaving her nursing career for a life in coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuebraditas is a family-run project dedicated to producing premium coffee with standout and reproducible sensory profiles thanks to their fermentation processes, including thermal shock and yeast inoculation. They also focus on agronomic management and soil care (strategic shading, use of organic matter, maintenance of soil pH and calcium) that allows them to increase the potential of each crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOporapa is a region that has not yet gained significant recognition in the coffee world, partly due to infrastructure challenges and other factors. Edinson and Ángela started their journey on Chorro Alto, a farm owned by Ángela’s parents. Ángela manages the administration, while Edinson oversees coffee processing and farm operations. They also collaborate with two other farms – one in La Plata, which grows varieties such as Sidra and SL28, and another in the Argentina region. Additionally, they purchase coffee cherries from San Adolfo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey have two coffee farms located at 1600-1850 meters above sea level in the central Huila Mountains. These farms cover 18 hectares, 10 of which grow traditional varieties such as Caturra and Colombia, and one of which is exclusively for special varieties, including Eugenoides, Bourbon Pointu, Geisha, Java, Bourbon Chiroso, Wush Wush, Bourbon Ají, Papayo, Pacamara, Sudan Rume, and Arará. The vision is to eventually grow only these non-traditional varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo process this lot, cherries were floated to remove green, overripe, and dry cherry.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eIt was then oxidized in food-grade plastic drums for 36 hours and depulped without using water. Fermentation continued for a total of 48 hours with a specific yeast strain\/starter made from citrus fruits — these fruits and their juices contain microorganisms that s\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eignificantly influenced fermentation and the final coffee flavor. After fermentation, the coffee was dried for 76 hours at an average temperature of 40°C. Finally, it was stabilized and prepared for transport in GrainPro-type bags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1650-1800 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Orange Bourbon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 90\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £20\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56819986694530,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56819996557698,"sku":null,"price":270.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Edison-Argote5-1.jpg?v=1763227441"},{"product_id":"misfits-uganda-drugar-natural-green","title":"'Misfits' Uganda Drugar Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a coffee you wouldn’t usually see in a specialty roaster’s list: Drugar is short for Dried Uganda Arabica. This is usually a home-dried coffee that normally sells on the internal market in Uganda because it’s not considered worthy of export. Unlike Ethiopia, the internal market in Uganda doesn’t pay particularly well for coffee, so producing exportable coffee creates a massive income difference for farmers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur friends Dana, Shak, and Michael at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thecoffeegardens.com\/\"\u003eThe Coffee Gardens\u003c\/a\u003e do amazing social work, and they saw an opportunity to raise incomes for farmers by collecting cherry, drying and sorting some of the Drugar with their partners at TCY, blending it with some of their rejects, and elevating it to exportable quality while paying a premium. It was quite a delicious cup just as they sent it to us, but with the added advantage of our colour sorter to clean it up even further, this coffee becomes truly beautiful. We bought the entire lot of 37 sacks. This is a rare case where the old specialty coffee story of 'helping a farmer improve quality so they make more money' is actually true. This coffee now tastes like rum punch and cherry Kool-Aid: an inflation-beating juice bomb. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Coffee Gardens was established in 2017 with the goal of producing incredible specialty coffees in an ethical way, offering a transparent and direct link between coffee farmers and coffee consumers. The project was established for many purposes: to improve farmers’ income and livelihoods, create and provide rural employment, promote gender equality, increase transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain, promote and work on environmental protection in the area, and provide training in good agricultural practices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1400-2300 Metres Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: SL14, SL28, Nyasaland\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup Score: 87\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kilo: £7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Fully natural, home-dried by coffee-growing smallholders\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Uganda","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56872595685762,"sku":null,"price":15.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56872604303746,"sku":null,"price":101.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/DSC01904.jpg?v=1786702421"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-bette-buna-kickstart-natural-green","title":"Ethiopia Bette Buna Kickstart Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis \"kickstart\" natural coffee is super sugary and juicy thanks to a special processing technique developed by our good friends at Bette Buna. The cherries were flash-fermented before continuing with the natural process, giving them an extra burst of sweetness alongside fruity-floral notes of cherry juice and coffee blossom. This is the coffee we want to drink all day, every day!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a bit more about Bette Buna, check out our blog post \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/weve-never-seen-ethiopia-like-this\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e or read on below ...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetta Buna was founded by partners Hester Westerveld-Syoum and Dawit Syoum when they inherited their grandfather’s tiny family farm in Taferi Kela, Sidamo. With a background in NGO and development work, they decided to grow and scale the farm as the foundation for a larger company with greater impact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eStarting in 2019, they have now grown considerably, expanding the Taferi Kela farm from 2 to 50 hectares and spreading to a second 50-hectare farm in Megadu, Guji. Both farms have tree nurseries where climate change-resistant varietals are grown to share with surrounding farmers. Similarly, they have facilities where they not only process their own lots but also educate other farmers in processing techniques, while their Coffee Campus programme provides training in roasting, brewing, and even exporting. They provide countless opportunities for their farming communities by not only teaching and motivating farmers but also hiring local workers at their nurseries and mills, including single mothers and disabled people who would struggle to find employment elsewhere. They also prioritise sustainable farming methods, rewild forests on their land, and protect local wildlife to promote ecosystem health for future generations. We're proud to support Bette Buna and plan to partner with them for many years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTo create this lot, the cherries were given a “kick” by putting them in an anaerobic environment for a short amount of time before continuing processing. Not long enough for official fermentation to begin, but long enough for the structure of the sugar within the cherries to change. After this, the coffee was dried normally on raised African-style beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOnce the correct moisture level was reached, the cherry was bagged, tagged, and stored for a minimum of 8 weeks to improve the complexity and intensity of the cup profile. After dry milling locally to remove the hulls, the team applied another round of hand sorting to remove any primary defects. After that, the bags of green coffee were loaded on a truck to take a 3-5 day drive to the Bette Buna dry mill in Gelan, close to Addis Ababa. Here the green beans underwent another round of cleaning, screening, and colour sorting, and were bagged a final time, ready to be exported.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1900-2100 MASL\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: 74112, 74110, Wild Guji Megadu\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 87\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £15.56\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Kickstart natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethiopia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56883836027266,"sku":null,"price":28.34,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56883837010306,"sku":null,"price":212.28,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/PXL_20251207_092539544_47452d9a-4be6-4b69-9977-e120d0c7f88a.jpg?v=1788335021"},{"product_id":"colombia-edinson-argote-castillo-washed-green","title":"Colombia Edinson Argote Castillo Washed GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeave it to Edinson Argote and the team at Quebraditas to make even the humble Castillo varietal taste like a dreamy dessert. This coffee is similar to his ever-popular \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/collections\/coffee\/products\/colombia-angela-rojas-orange-bourbon\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOrange Bourbon,\u003c\/a\u003e but with a bit more sweet creaminess – there are loads of bright citrus notes here alongside bubblegummy, marshmallowy goodness. A tasty treat for all the sweet tooths out there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2023, Edinson Argote and Ángela Rojas joined forces to create the Quebraditas project, which includes two farms – Chorro Alto and Quebraditas. Ángela had originally left the countryside to study nursing, but ultimately returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic to trade her nursing career for a life in coffee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuebraditas is a family-run project dedicated to producing premium coffee with standout and reproducible sensory profiles thanks to their fermentation processes, including thermal shock and yeast inoculation. They also focus on agronomic management and soil care (strategic shading, use of organic matter, and the maintenance of soil pH and calcium) that allows them to increase the potential of each crop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOporapa is a region that has not yet gained significant recognition in the coffee world, partly due to infrastructure challenges and other factors. Edinson and Ángela started their journey on Chorro Alto, a farm owned by Ángela’s parents. Ángela manages the administration, while Edinson oversees coffee processing and farm operations. They also collaborate with two other farms – one in La Plata, which grows varieties such as Sidra and SL28, and another in the Argentina region. Additionally, they purchase coffee cherries from San Adolfo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey have two coffee farms located at 1600-1850 meters above sea level in the central Huila Mountains. These farms cover 18 hectares, 10 of which grow traditional varieties such as Caturra and Colombia, and one of which is exclusively for special varieties, including Eugenoides, Bourbon Pointu, Geisha, Java, Bourbon Chiroso, Wush Wush, Bourbon Ají, Papayo, Pacamara, Sudan Rume, and Arará. The vision is to eventually grow only these non-traditional varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo process this lot, cherries were floated to remove green, overripe, and dry cherry. It was then oxidized in food-grade plastic drums for 24 hours and depulped without using water. Fermentation continued for a total of 60 hours with a specific yeast before washing. The coffee was then dried for 76 hours at an average temperature of 38°C. Finally, it was stabilized and prepared for transport in GrainPro-type bags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1650-1800 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Castillo\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 87.5\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £11.50\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Washed with yeast inoculation\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56896345571714,"sku":null,"price":22.25,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56896348979586,"sku":null,"price":159.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Edison-Argote2-1.jpg?v=1772734657"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-mustefa-abakeno-washed-green","title":"Ethiopia Mustefa Abakeno Washed GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMustefa (pictured above, center) is one of the key success stories of our partner Falcon working in Ethiopia, and a perfect illustration of how a relatively small amount of money and training can go miles in the right hands. By collaborating with Falcon's team, Mustefa has been able to significantly increase both his quality and yield as well as that of his community, boosting everyone's livelihoods along the way. We're honoured to support his endeavors by offering this lot, a crisp and delicious classic Ethiopian washed with notes of green grape, lemon, and bergamot. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can read a bit more Mustefa's journey below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMustefa Abakeno, a dedicated smallholder farmer in the Jimma Zone of Western Ethiopia, manages an extensive 18-hectare farm located at an elevation of 2,040 meters above sea level. His farm is a testament to the rich coffee heritage of Ethiopia, featuring a diverse array of coffee varieties sourced from the esteemed Jimma Research Center.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2018, Mustefa embarked on his journey as an exporter, benefiting from regulatory changes that allowed him to engage directly with discerning buyers. To facilitate this endeavor, he established the Beshasha wet mill, a versatile facility processing both his coffee and that of local outgrowers. These outgrowers, Mustefa's neighbors, collectively oversee land parcels ranging from 4 to 10 hectares.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMustefa's partnership with the Falcon team in Addis Ababa exemplifies the potential for enhancing coffee quality through direct relationships. This collaboration spans various facets of coffee production, encompassing cherry selection, drying, and farm management. It also streamlines the supply chain, ensuring that a significant portion of the proceeds directly benefits the producers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2021, the addition of agronomist Harun to the Falcon team marked a pivotal moment. Harun's primary focus during the most recent harvest season has been training and supporting Mustefa and his neighbours who supply cherries to the washing station. Harun's efforts have led to numerous improvements at the washing station, including the installation of shade netting to protect drying beds during the hottest hours of the day. Cherry selection at the delivery point, tagging day lots for separation, and vigilant monitoring of moisture levels during drying ensure uniform drying before lot assembly. Harun has also been leading a stumping trial with Mustefa on his farm and six of his neighbours' farms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMustefa himself maintains a small field lab, equipped with a high-spec Sinar moisture reader acquired in 2020. This device ensures that all parchment dried in the stations reaches a consistent moisture level before storage. Harun takes charge of assessing and grading dried day lots, categorizing them based on quality and cupping profile. In parallel, he imparts training in good agricultural practices (GAP) to local farmers, elevating the quality and productivity of their coffee gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotably, Mustefa's commitment to excellence extends to infrastructure development. He has constructed a modern warehouse in Agaro, impeccably equipped for milling Natural processed coffees. This investment underscores his dedication to refining and enhancing coffee cherry processing to meet the highest standards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a significant move during the 2022 off-season, Mustefa acquired four additional purchasing sites: Echamo, Jarso, Badeyi, and Saadi. These sites serve as crucial collection points, where cherries are meticulously selected and purchased from neighbouring farmers. The cherries procured at these sites are subsequently transported to the two main processing stations, Beshasha and Kabira, where Mustefa's exacting standards and coffee processing expertise are consistently applied. This strategic expansion not only fortifies Mustefa's capacity to source exceptional coffee cherries but also reinforces his role as a catalyst for community development within his region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo process this lot, the coffee was floated to remove underripe cherry, pulped, and then fermented in tanks for 8-12 hours. Next, it was washed and cleaned in channels to remove the parchment. After that, the coffee was shade-dried and any defective beans removed while still at 50% moisture. Drying continued a further 7-10 days during the warmest parts of day until the ideal moisture level was reached. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 2000-2100 MASL\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eVarietal: 74110, 74112\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eCup score: 86.5\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ePrice paid per kg: £8.80\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Washed\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethiopia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56896469991810,"sku":null,"price":18.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56896470843778,"sku":null,"price":124.4,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/IMG_3509.jpg?v=1787853376"},{"product_id":"costa-rica-aquiares-centroamericano-thermic-green","title":"Costa Rica Aquiares Centroamericano Thermic GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've featured several distinct lots from our good friends at Aquiares this year, and they've all been delicious. However – there's no other way to say it – this lot is the MOST delicious! Notes of juicy strawberry, sweet-tart raspberry, and floral hibiscus magically mingle to create a fruity, tangy dream. We've only got a small amount of this special lot, so stock up while you can.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosta Rican coffees (and Central American coffees in general) can represent a lot of problematic things about the coffee supply chain: For example, many farms in Central America are owned by wealthy Westerners who have access to capital and marketing that allows them to sell their coffees at prices that indigenous people could never achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is different, and it represents the sort of decolonisation of the coffee supply chain that we want to support. Aquiares is a Costa Rican legacy farm, and they've set an absolute gold standard in how they treat people and the planet. The way they increase biodiversity, capture carbon, and care for both Costa Rican and migrant workers is a testament to how coffee CAN change people's lives. In fact, Diego Robelo (pictured above) is more like a town mayor than a coffee farmer, and our colleague Will recently visited to write about \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/aquiares-not-just-a-costa-rican-coffee-farm\"\u003ethis expansive community\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe've bought coffee from Aquiares since our first year at Skylark, but we are delighted to partner with them more fully for the first time in 2025 as well as for the foreseeable future. We plan to have their coffee on offer year-round as a staple to support the amazing work they do. Check out more of their story by reading below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares, one of Costa Rica’s largest and most historic coffee farms, sits high on the fertile slopes of Turrialba volcano. Producing coffee continuously for over a century, the farm has developed an enduring model for growing high-quality Arabica coffee, protecting a stunning natural setting, and supporting a thriving local community of 1,800 people. Established by British farmers in 1890, Aquiares was one of the first estates to produce and export Costa Rican coffee. In 1971, the farm was purchased by its current owners, three families who have worked together with the farm's staff and community to implement a modern model of sustainable agriculture. Don Alfonso took over farm management in 1992, and at the time he was new(ish) to coffee. However, one thread throughout his life has been a commitment to social justice. From the beginning, Don Alfonso made the social welfare of farm workers and the wider community one of his main priorities. His dedication has transformed the farm and the region. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe community of Aquiares, originally created to house workers on the estate, sits in the midst of the farm. When it was built, the farm owned the houses where employees lived, creating home insecurity amongst working families. In 1992, under Don Alfonso’s management, the farm started a project to enable people to own their own houses. Each worker received a bonus for his or her years of service, housing plots were priced at a fraction of the local rate, and workers received assistance to apply for the government house fund. In the beginning, this seemed too good to be true, but as the first families obtained their own homes everyone else followed suit. In a matter of three years, the town was brought to life, enriched by security and achievement. Today, only around 15% of Aquiares residents work on the farm (many have gone on to become schoolteachers, doctors, etc.) and 96% of these own their own home, giving them options for the future that they themselves can choose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll Aquiares coffee is picked by hand to ensure consistent high quality. Microlots such as this one are picked by a special team of expert harvesters who are paid well above the daily rate for their exceptional skills. Each tree is visited up to seven times during the harvest to ensure that only fully red ripe cherries are picked. The pickers represent the farm’s most valuable asset. They hail from the community of Aquiares, nearby towns, and even from the neighbouring country of Nicaragua. The farm ensures that all workers have a safe work environment and a comfortable place to live. Workers coming from further away can live in on-site housing and use a children’s daycare. The farm sponsors doctors’ visits for pickers and their families twice a week where nutritional health advice is also given. To take better care of its field workers, Aquiares has established first-of-its-kind physical therapy sessions and also a daily warm-up routine of exercise before work. Many pickers return each year, confirming the success of the model.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAquiares is strongly committed to and has become an international leader in environmental sustainability. The farm has long seen the connection between agricultural, environmental, and social health. By planting more than 50,000 shade trees, creating natural buffers around streams and water springs, preserving the river valleys as forests, planting along the contour lines, implementing integrated pest management systems, and many other steps, Aquiares has demonstrated how to make ecological ideals a reality. For example, since soil health is the most important factor for a successful farm, Aquiares takes many steps to naturally improve the farm’s volcanic soil. The organic matter from pruning and the leaf litter from the coffee and shade trees are left to feed soil microbes and provide organic nutrients. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe diversified shade trees (over 40 species) also cool the ground, slowing the ripening of the coffee, which allows for sugars from the mucilage to be fully absorbed by the bean, thus improving cup quality. The farm’s agricultural objective is to find synergies like these, where environmental health translates into coffee plant health, which ultimately contributes to long-term stability in the production of high-quality coffee. The farm’s terrain varies from gently sloping to steep hills. Valleys between hills create microclimates that are ideal for growing mainly Caturra and grafted Arabica-Nemaya varieties. Although Aquiares is considered large by Central American standards, the farm aims to tend to every individual coffee plant’s needs. Therefore, Aquiares utilizes a system of pruning each plant on its own, instead of pruning by row or by lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough an intensive rehabilitation program, Aquiares has re-planted more than 400,000 coffee trees in small patches of existing fields. This rejuvenated the crop of trees and increased the land’s utilization. It also played a crucial role in the 2012 rust attack, as young plants resisted the disease better, slowing its spread. Stringent environmental stewardship enabled the farm to achieve Rainforest Alliance Certification in 2003. In 2012, Aquiares became the first farm in Costa Rica to fulfill the requirements of the Rainforest Alliance Climate Module. This requires adhering to careful standards of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, which are meticulously tracked through each harvest season. This certification demonstrates that the farm’s low emissions do not meaningfully contribute to climate change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can read more about life at Aquiares \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/aquiares-not-just-a-costa-rican-coffee-farm\"\u003eright here\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElevation: 1200 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: F1 Centroamericano Hybrid\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £18.02\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Thermic\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Costa Rica","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56911965749634,"sku":null,"price":32.03,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56911966241154,"sku":null,"price":244.26,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/AquiaresEstate-AllyCoffee_4.jpg?v=1762275010"},{"product_id":"colombia-edinson-argote-strawberry-daiquiri-green","title":"Colombia Edinson Argote Strawberry Daiquiri GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAllergy warning: this coffee was processed using strawberry juice and pulp, so it should not be consumed by anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to strawberries. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdinson's co-ferments (like his tasty \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/collections\/coffee\/products\/colombia-edinson-argote-peach-melba\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePeach Melba\u003c\/a\u003e) have been such bit hits that we've decided to really go for it and add two new options to the mix. This one has been co-fermented with strawberries and tastes like a sweet, tangy strawberry daiquiri. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want to try all three co-ferments, have a look at our special Tasting Set \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/collections\/coffee\/products\/colombia-edinson-argote-co-ferment-taster-pack\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eEdinson Argote and Ángela Rojas recently joined forces to create the Quebraditas Project, which includes two farms – Chorro Alto and Quebraditas. Ángela had originally left the countryside to study nursing, but ultimately returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic to exchange her nursing career for a life in coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is from Quebraditas, their family-run farm dedicated to producing premium coffee with standout and reproducible sensory profiles thanks to innovative fermentation processes, including thermal shock and yeast inoculation. They also focus on agronomic management and soil care (strategic shading, use of organic matter, maintenance of soil pH and calcium) that allows them to increase the potential of each crop. Ángela manages the administration, while Edinson oversees coffee processing and farm operations. They also collaborate with two other farms – one in La Plata, which grows varieties such as Sidra and SL28, and another in the Argentina region, while additionally purchasing coffee cherries from San Adolfo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir coffee farms are located at an altitude of 1600-1850 meters above sea level in the central Huila Mountains. These farms cover 18 hectares, and while most of the land is planted with traditional varieties such as Caturra and Colombia, at least 1 hectare is reserved exclusively for special varieties, including Eugenoides, Bourbon Pointu, Geisha, Java, Bourbon Chiroso, Wush Wush, Bourbon Ají, Papayo, Pacamara, Sudan Rume, and Arará. The vision is to eventually grow only these non-traditional varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo process this lot, cherries were floated to remove green, overripe, and dry cherry.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eIt was then oxidised in food-grade plastic drums for 12 hours and depulped without using water. After fermenting for 24 hours in an open tank to remove mucilage, fermentation continued for 72 hours \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eat temperatures below 25°C with a mix of ripe strawberry and specific yeasts. After fermentation, the coffee was washed and dried for 42 hours at 38°C. Finally, it was stabilised and prepared for transport in GrainPro-type bags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1850 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Caturra\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £17.95\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Strawberry Co-Fermented\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56926754668930,"sku":null,"price":31.93,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56926761156994,"sku":null,"price":243.35,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Edinson-Argote-1.jpg?v=1772734657"},{"product_id":"colombia-edinson-argote-passionfruit-punch-green","title":"Colombia Edinson Argote Passionfruit Punch GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAllergy warning: this coffee was processed using passionfruit juice and pulp, so it should not be consumed by anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to passionfruit. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eEdinson's co-ferments (like his tasty \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/collections\/coffee\/products\/colombia-edinson-argote-peach-melba\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePeach Melba\u003c\/a\u003e) have been such bit hits that we've decided to really go for it and add two new options to the mix. This one has been co-fermented with passionfruit and tastes like the juiciest spiked tropical punch. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want to try all three co-ferments, have a look at our special Tasting Set \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/collections\/coffee\/products\/colombia-edinson-argote-co-ferment-taster-pack\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eEdinson Argote and Ángela Rojas recently joined forces to create the Quebraditas Project, which includes two farms – Chorro Alto and Quebraditas. Ángela had originally left the countryside to study nursing, but ultimately returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic to exchange her nursing career for a life in coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coffee is from Quebraditas, their family-run farm dedicated to producing premium coffee with standout and reproducible sensory profiles thanks to innovative fermentation processes, including thermal shock and yeast inoculation. They also focus on agronomic management and soil care (strategic shading, use of organic matter, maintenance of soil pH and calcium) that allows them to increase the potential of each crop. Ángela manages the administration, while Edinson oversees coffee processing and farm operations. They also collaborate with two other farms – one in La Plata, which grows varieties such as Sidra and SL28, and another in the Argentina region, while additionally purchasing coffee cherries from San Adolfo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir coffee farms are located at an altitude of 1600-1850 meters above sea level in the central Huila Mountains. These farms cover 18 hectares, and while most of the land is planted with traditional varieties such as Caturra and Colombia, at least 1 hectare is reserved exclusively for special varieties, including Eugenoides, Bourbon Pointu, Geisha, Java, Bourbon Chiroso, Wush Wush, Bourbon Ají, Papayo, Pacamara, Sudan Rume, and Arará. The vision is to eventually grow only these non-traditional varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo process this lot, cherries were floated to remove green, overripe, and dry cherry.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eIt was then oxidised in food-grade plastic drums for 12 hours and depulped without using water. After fermenting for 24 hours in an open tank to remove mucilage, fermentation continued for 72 hours \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eat temperatures below 25°C with a mix of ripe passionfruit and specific yeasts. After fermentation, the coffee was washed and dried for 42 hours at 38°C. Finally, it was stabilised and prepared for transport in GrainPro-type bags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1850 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Caturra\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £17.95\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Passionfruit Co-Fermented\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Colombia","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56926762402178,"sku":null,"price":31.93,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56926763712898,"sku":null,"price":243.35,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/Edison-Argote4-1.jpg?v=1788358161"},{"product_id":"brazil-mata-abadia-natural-green","title":"Brazil Mata Abadia Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMata Abadia was one of the winning farms in the regional competition we had the honour of attending last harvest. It's located in Mantiquera, right on the outskirts of the Sul de Minas mountain range, where the slightly more elevated geography lends itself to a surprisingly fruity cup for a Brazilian natural.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis coffee has one of our favourite daily-drinker profiles: Sweet, high body, chocolate, and cherry. It's both comforting and elevated – the perfect treat to start your day or energise your afternoon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMantiqueira is currently one of the most awarded coffee regions of Brazil. It's been recognised both for its long coffee heritage as well as its reputation for producing specialty coffees with a highly differentiated sensory profile. Unlike many other regions of Brazil, coffee cherries in Mantiqueira are mainly hand-picked, allowing for better quality control. This more considered harvesting method, along with the land, climate conditions, and (of course) the dedication of the farmers, makes Mantiqueira coffees very special indeed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1200 Meters above Sea Level\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: Yellow Catucai\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 85\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £8.55\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Fully natural, cherries are sorted, then dried on patios\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brazil","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56932786504066,"sku":null,"price":17.83,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56932787945858,"sku":null,"price":121.15,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/20251024_104223.jpg?v=1783507022"},{"product_id":"brazil-joao-artur-natural-green","title":"Brazil João Artur Natural GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoão Artur Siqueira Rodrigues runs his coffee farm with a level of warmth and enthusiasm that overflows into his community and is just the kind of small family business we love to support. Our co-founder Micah had the pleasure of meeting João and his family earlier this year \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eand couldn't resist buying a few bags of this tasty natural with notes of chocolate, citrus, and Brazil nuts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a classic story of a medium-sized family farm growing brilliant, chocolatey coffee. We’ve seldom met someone with as much ‘dad energy’ as Jo\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eão Artur: He was excited to show off his restoration of a classic Chevrolet work truck, but not nearly as excited as he was to show off the healthy coffee trees which he’s planted right up to the walls of their lovely family home. He is rightfully proud of how he’s shifted production of his farm from various fruits into coffee at the right time to grow into the specialty coffee market. The entire family met us with warmth, kindness, and laughter when we visited, and the love that’s in this farm is palpable. This medium-sized family business shows how coffee farming can be a sustainable livelihood in places like Brazil, and we think that’s something to be celebrated! \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased in Minas Gerais, João grows three varieties of coffee on his farm: Red Mundo Novo, Yellow Catucai, and Yellow Catuai. This lot was mechanically harvested and naturally processed. He's a regular participant in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/blogs\/news\/we-re-swapping-our-most-popular-coffee-for-something-more-skylark\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFutures\u003c\/a\u003e project, but we also wanted to showcase this lot on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 900-938 Meters Above Sea Level\u003cbr\u003eVarietal: Mundo Novo, Catucai, Catuai\u003cbr\u003eCup score: 83\u003cbr\u003ePrice paid per kg: £7\u003cbr\u003eProcess: Fully natural\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brazil","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56932936450434,"sku":null,"price":15.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56932937499010,"sku":null,"price":101.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/IMG-20251028-WA0017.jpg?v=1789475334"},{"product_id":"costa-rica-corazon-de-jesus-gesha-green","title":"Costa Rica Corazón de Jesús Gesha GREEN","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, this listing is for GREEN\/UNROASTED coffee. Roasted coffee is at the top of the website.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a world where co-ferments and wacky processing have almost occluded the coffees that used to excite us, this exceptional lot is a time machine back to the style of Gesha that was a game changer 15 to 20 years ago. This is the Platonic ideal of what a Gesha can and should be. For those who remember, it's extremely similar to the 'Purple Princess' Esmeralda Gesha that first passed the $100\/lb. auction barrier back in 2007. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Alvarado Fonseca family processed this coffee using their signature 'slow natural' process, a technique developed over months of experimentation and refinement. The cherries were dried over 10 to 20 days and rested for months (yes, you read that correctly) before milling to create a mind-blowingly sweet and complex cup. Absolutely redolent with notes of strawberry, aged Cognac, and calendula, you do \u003cem\u003enot\u003c\/em\u003e want to miss this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLocated in Costa Rica’s coffee region, Vista Paraíso farm and the Corazón de Jesús Micromill are owned by the Alvarado Fonseca family. The family started their business in November 2015 with a mission to earn recognition nationally and internationally for their quality and innovation while always working in harmony with the environment. Operations at the micromill primarily focus on processing coffees from the Chirripó microregion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe family have now established themselves as producers of high-quality coffees and received numerous awards, reflecting their passion and expertise. During the 2021-2022 harvest, they embarked on a new journey that would transform the way they processed their coffee. This led to the creation of the Natural Reposado (Slow Natural) process. The family's vision was to create something unique, a method that could highlight the individual characteristics of each coffee variety they grew. With this in mind, they started a testing period that lasted around four months. Every family member got involved, experimenting at different times and temperatures until they found the perfect formula.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor this Geisha x ET47 lot from La Cusuka, Corazón de Jesús Micromill applied a carefully managed Slow Natural process designed to preserve the coffee's aromatic complexity while promoting gradual and even drying. Fully ripe cherries were selectively handpicked and carefully sorted before being transferred to raised drying beds, where they were dried whole under the sun. The cherries were regularly turned throughout the drying process and adjusted according to weather conditions and the rate of moisture reduction. The coffee slowly dried for 10 to 20 days, allowing moisture to decrease gradually while preserving the integrity of the fruit. Once the cherries reached the appropriate moisture content, the coffee rested for about two months before dry milling and final preparation for export. This slow and controlled approach allowed the coffee to develop pronounced sweetness, fruit complexity, and aromatic expression while maintaining clarity and balance in the cup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElevation: 1500-1800 Meters Above Sea Level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarietal: Gesha\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCup score: 92\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrice paid per kg: £32\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProcess: Slow Natural\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Costa Rica","offers":[{"title":"1kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56932967022978,"sku":null,"price":53.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10kg GREEN COFFEE","offer_id":56933036294530,"sku":null,"price":426.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0274\/9566\/1686\/files\/corazon_de_jesus_5.png?v=1789479152"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.skylark.coffee\/collections\/green-coffee.oembed?page=5","provider":"Skylark Coffee","version":"1.0","type":"link"}