Peru Chirinos

What We Taste:  toasted almond + s'more + layered Chirinos is a long-standing cooperative in the northern reaches of the Andes within the famed Cajamarca region. They established in 1968 by 36 coffee producers with one goal in common: to improve coffee at a level that exceeds the demand of the international specialty market. Throughout the 80’s, the co-op gained attention for its political efforts to establish “pro-cooperative” legislation in Peru, which would improve socioeconomic conditions in historically overlooked communities. In the decades since, despite the government backsliding on promises, the co-op has thrived due to a collective vision and solidarity.The Chirinos co-op uses organic compost, and a nutrient-rich fertilizer using a Colombian method called “gaicashi.” This system produces potent compost at a low cost, eliminating the need for pesticides. With careful, supervised management, the terraced plots produce high yield  Bourbon, Catturra, and Typica varieties. Ou