This coffee is produced by 15 smallholder farmers in the El Sauce community in Loja, Ecuador. The town of El Sauce is one of the oldest coffee-growing regions in Ecuador, with farms ranging from 1 to 5 hectares located between 1,700 and 2,100 meters above sea level. The lot consists primarily of Typica and Bourbon varieties. This is a traditionally washed coffee where only ripe cherries are harvested, de-pulped, and then slowly dried on raised beds. The cup is intense and punchy with bright, juicy acidity, black cherry flavor, and a delicate floral note like lilac in the finish.
Boxcar Coffee Roasters was founded in 2010 by husband and wife team Vajra and Cara Rich with the goal of building a world class roasting company in their hometown of Boulder, Colorado. The team of 50 roasts on modified vintage Probat drum roasters fitted with highly customised systems and state of the art software for precision control. Boxcar purchases coffee at prices three to four times above Fair Trade levels through direct relationships with growers, and organic beans make up 30 to 45 percent of their yearly purchasing. The business runs two retail café locations with integrated bakeries in Boulder alongside a full service wholesale programme serving accounts nationwide.
