This is a rare single-origin coffee from Colombia, specifically from the Huila region in Pitalito. Produced by José Hernán Salazar Benavides at his farm La Guaca, this coffee is made from the Ají Landrace variety - a first-generation offspring from wild Ethiopian coffee forests, similar to Gesha. The coffee is processed using the Anaerobic Washed method and grown at 1798 meters altitude, harvested in January 2025. It achieved 6th place in the Colombia Cup of Excellence. The flavor profile includes notes of Blackcurrant, Citrus Blossom, and Panela.
Kiss the Hippo launched in 2018 as London's first carbon negative coffee roastery. Every coffee they sell is certified organic by the Soil Association and certified carbon negative, with reforestation projects in Colombia, Madagascar, Zambia, and Nepal through a partnership with Swiss nonprofit On A Mission. They pay farmers at least 50% above Fair Trade prices, often double. The roastery has won the UK Barista Championships three times, with victories by Joshua Tarlo in 2018, Paul Ross in 2019, and Paul Ross again in 2020 and now supplies seven London café locations. Sustainability extends to fully compostable pods, recyclable packaging, a Living Wage commitment, and a partnership with bio bean that turns used grounds into biofuels.
