Peru San José de Lourdes MCM G1 Washed 2025

San Jose de Lourdes Coffee Community

In San Jose de Lourdes in San Ignacio, Cajamarca, sustainability is at the heart of the community. All of the smallholders here are dedicated to working in harmony with the environment. This is in alignment with the community’s hydroelectric micro-basin, which powers parts of Peru and Ecuador with renewable energy.

The district of San Jose de Lourdes rests on three altitudinal levels–low, medium, and high from 1,400 to 1,800masl–with a variety of microclimates and fertile soil that are ideal for growing high quality coffee. The varietal blend of Caturra, Typica, and Catimor coffees commonly grown throughout Peru contribute to this lot’s classic cup character, featuring notes of sweet brown sugar, dark chocolate and pecan with hints of fresh herbs and dried fruit, balanced by a pleasant acidity and smooth body.

Washed Green Coffee from Peru

In Peru, the washed coffee process is the most commonly used method for preparing specialty coffee. After selective handpicking, ripe cherries are depulped to remove the outer fruit layer, typically using mechanical depulpers at the farm or local processing stations.

The beans, still coated in sticky fruit mucilage, are then fermented in tanks or sealed bags to break down the remaining sugars. After fermentation, the beans are thoroughly washed with clean water and spread out on raised beds or patios to dry, often under solar covers to protect from rain and maintain consistent airflow. This method highlights the coffee's terroir, producing clean, vibrant cups that showcase the distinct regional characteristics of Peruvian coffee.

About Peruvian Green Coffee Beans

Peru is the world’s 5th largest producer of Arabica coffee and it is gaining in popularity. The thin air, soaring altitudes, and fertile soil throughout Peru come together to form a breathtaking environment where coffee thrives. But sharing a border with the largest coffee-producing nation in the world is not easy. While Brazil’s efficiency and price points are unmatched, Peru finds its footing in differentiation and variety, making every harvest something to look forward to.

According to the Peruvian National Coffee board (Junta Nacional del Café), Peru's coffee production declined by 9.65% to approximately 3.986 million 60-kg bags in 2024, primarily due to climatic disruptions, a significant presence of coffee leaf rust, and the aging of 70% of coffee plantations across 380,000 hectares. The country faces ongoing challenges, necessitating urgent implementation of a reconversion plan to enhance productivity and sustainability in the coffee sector.

Since 2014, Genuine Origin’s sister company Volcafe Peru has been going the extra mile to ensure its producer partners are sustainably profitable by engaging in clusters of farmers with medium- and long-term commitments that reinvest funds into infrastructure and technical assistance. Learn more in our Peruvian Coffee Origin Report.