Maybe you’re a teacher, and you’ve watched a struggling child absolutely nail their GCSEs and take control of their future. Or mentored an employee which led to them getting promoted. Or, hell, kept a plant alive for more than a week!
Whatever it is, it’s gratifying to see someone or something grow. And that’s what we like about the sourcing model we use. It’s rarely a one-off exchange of cash for beans - usually we’re A) returning next season to buy again, and B) giving guidance on how to use any extra profit to keep improving farming processes. That means quality keeps going up, up, up!
Remember Asomuprisma?
We’d be surprised if you don’t - we’re pretty proud of our relationship with this Colombia women’s association. Gender inequity is a big problem in the coffee industry, and they’re actively challenging that from the inside out. We’re chuffed to bits to be supporting them on that journey.
From the first group lot we bought and sold, we’ve held training days and made small technical investments (including the humble plastic bucket for sorting cherries through floatation!). And from those, we’ve really seen big strides in coffee quality.
So much so, that some of the association members have produced coffee not just good enough to go on our menu as single lots, but as Micro-lots!
The Asomuprisma Micro-lots: a series
Micro-lots: small quantities, high quality, and a price that reflects both those things. Having your coffee chosen for this line is a clear indication that your coffee is pretty damn good. And more than that, it means you’re getting a hefty top-up payment!
This comes in the form of back payments. What are back payments? Let’s break it down:
- In Colombian, the National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers (or FNC) are legally obliged to buy and pay for any coffee farmer’s crop, on the day they bring it in
- This price is based on a variety of factors - such as the market rate and coffee type and quality
- For any coffee Pact buys, those farmers get an extra back payment - which is the price we pay minus the original payment and any administrative/logistic costs. For Micro-lots, it’s a big payment!
An exciting thing for women who are newly empowering themselves on the farm, and newly growing speciality crops - so we held a breakfast celebration, to hand out the back payments (to eight women and counting!) and hear what the group members had to say.
First up: Villa Esperanza
Before the group formed, Elcira was given autonomy only in the realm of “women’s work” - in her words. Now? Her and her husband are a team - she takes care of the business and marketing side of their farm’s coffee, he focuses on the manual work involved.
With Elcira at the forefront, they’ve achieved something incredible. The rich full body of this coffee supports a well developed and tart citrus acidity, complemented by orange and lemon flavours and accompanied by a slightly dry, lingering cranberry aftertaste. But don’t take it from us - try it for yourself here.
