We're massive fans of Peru - super interesting coffees from an origin that's oft slept on. Peruvian beans add fascinating diversity to the winter/spring lineup, and we've focused on producers doing things outside the norm.

Edy's farm, Yanamonte (10th place national winner in the 2020 Peru Cup of Excellence) specializes entirely in honey processing, and we're finding a sweet and chuggable cup with just the right amount of process character in this anoxic honey lot.

The Story

We cast a wider net for fresh crop Peru this year. Evie at Que Onda responded fast, samples landed faster, and here we are. Perfect timing too - landed just as our Central American lots start thinning out.

Peru's coffee story is about tension. For years, cooperatives were the safest route to market for most producers - often the only viable path to export. Community lots meant stability, but individual farms with exceptional quality couldn't capture their full value. Specialty buyers started picking off standout producers, promising better prices for better coffee. Some co-ops adapted, others doubled down on volume.

Now with the C-market at record highs, the math changes again. Bulk production through traditional channels might outpace specialty premiums. Good news for producers still holding stock, less impact for those who already sold cherry or parchment. Next harvest is where it gets interesting - whether these prices push more farms toward volume or create room for both paths to work.

Yanamonte is located at 1800 MASL in San Antonio, Cusco, at the intersection of the Andes and Amazon. The region's natural advantages are significant - high altitude farms, optimal soil conditions, and established bourbon plantings. However, these agricultural benefits are offset by logistical challenges. Remote locations and limited infrastructure make quality control difficult, while distance from ports increases costs throughout the supply chain. Many producers have needed to compromise between quality potential and practical market access. Though transportation networks and processing facilities continue to develop, moving exceptional coffee from these high altitude areas to port remains complex.

Value-added processing represents another way producers can differentiate their coffee and capture additional premiums. Edy and his wife have chosen to focus exclusively on honey processed lots. This specialization, combined with his studies in Ecuador and subsequent modernization of their processing plant, demonstrates a calculated investment in quality. Their commitment to this processing method allows for refinement and consistency across harvests.

The farm itself is traversed by the Qhapaq Ñan, the extensive network of Inca roads that once connected the empire. Just thirty minutes from the farm lies Llactapata Piquillacta, a pre-Inca citadel. This historic infrastructure, which served as the backbone of Tawantinsuyu, now connects a new generation of coffee producers to the international market.

What emerges is a picture of transition. Individual producers finding ways to distinguish themselves within Peru's established coffee infrastructure. Historic trade routes repurposed for modern commerce. Traditional farming knowledge adapted to meet evolving market demands. The barriers to quality-focused production in Peru have been significant, but producers like Edy demonstrate how they can be systematically addressed.