Colombia Agua Negra

The Agua Negra reserva is located in Cauca, the Municipio de Morales. One hundred and one producers own on average 1 hectare each and like the other reserves that CENCOIC work with, the producers of this region belong to an indigenous ethnic group. In this case it is the NASA, which in Colombia means they are governed by uses and customs of their own government, rather than a centralised, national one. Thirty percent of their population speak the Nasa Yuwe language, and steps have been taken in schools to both maintain and increase this important heritage.

The soft washed coffees they produce go through an eco beneficio, reducing the amount of water use whilst maintaining the floatation, pulping and fermentation steps needed. Fermentation here takes from between 13 to 17 hours, with coffee being washed in clean water and distributed across parabolic driers as well as patios when appropriate, drying from anywhere between 8 and 13 days, weather and heat dependent.