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High Grade Colombian Coffee in UK
UK benefitTing from LatAm’s high quality, natural resources
UK Coffee merchant seeks exclusive, high grade coffee
Edgcumbes are a Sussex-based, third generation tea-coffee merchant run by Alice and Chris Rendle.
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To differentiate from their competitors they source exclusive, high grade, speciality coffee to roast and sell in their coffee shops, online via their e-commerce website and to their range of B2B clients.
They value authentic provenance and aim for mutual growth with their growers/suppliers.
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Normally, UK businesses select their coffee from a big importing company with global sources and large quantities but Edgcumbes want to build direct relationships with their growers.
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I introduced them to Colombian coffee from the sacred mountains of Sierra Nevada. They roasted some and loved it. Their connoisseur customers thought it one of the best coffees they had tasted so Edgcumbes, naturally, wanted to place orders.
To get the best, ethical coffee for UK roasters we researched, interviewed and selected growers.
Via the Colombian National Coffee Federation we focused on the Arhuacos region due to the quality of the product and the authenticity of the growers.
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The secret to great coffee lies in the place where it grows and the altitude it grows at - typically the higher the better. Sierra Nevada coffee grows at an altitude of 2000 masl.
Coffee also needs care. We focused on the indigenous Arhuacos farming community - their method is completely manual with the coffee grown in the backyards of numerous small farms.
They process only one or two sacks each. They work together as a ‘cooperative’, combining efforts, crops and profits.
Connecting with indigenous Colombia
Overcoming barriers.
securing partnerships.
Arhuacos farmers don’t easily communicate with the outside world, they still travel large distances on horseback, don’t speak English and internet access is limited.
Through perseverance, patience, respect, earnt trust and the arrangement of local representation we forged a profit share agreement with the community’s leader, Wilber Mestre, to supply us with high grade, green coffee at harvest.
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Time is of the essence at harvest. If things don’t go to plan you have to wait another year! We arranged the collection of green coffee from the remote Sierra Nevada (not easy!) to be taken to the nearest city, Valledupar, to be milled. It was then delivered to port, 2 days prior to shipping, for export by ship container to the UK.
As well as handling all the legal and export/import essentials, constant communication was needed to ensure dates and times are kept and the various moving parts (ie people) keep moving!
Building fruitful relationships in LatAm - visiting Colombia
Once the coffee was successfully in the UK, and happily roasted by Edgcumbes, it became very popular among their customers. They looked to increase their orders threefold.
But it’s not all about sales for Alice and Chris. They wanted to develop a human relationship with their growers to understand more about them and their process. So we organised a trip to Colombia to interview potential coffee contacts in Bogota and meet the farmers and members of the Arhuacos community.
We researched solutions, booked appointments and organised translators, transport and hotels to ensure a safe, stress-free and fruitful experience.
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The visit to Colombia sealed their relationship with the Arhuacos. They met in person with the farmers, Wilber and his family, and many of the Arhuacos community.
They experienced the hurdles of getting the coffee out of this remote place but also saw that the crops they grow is central to their life, with rituals to plant, crop and harvest their produce, whether coffee, corn, avocado, bananas or other exotic fruits unknown in the UK.
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They were shown around their village, shared food and gained understanding of the journey a coffee bean goes on from plant to cup. They, in return, offered Wilber help on his personal project to start his own roastery.
It wasn’t all “work” however, they also had a very special few days at a boutique beach hotel on the Caribbean coast.
“We are back now after a fantastic trip to Colombia. We learnt so much and met some inspirational people!
Thank you so much for your amazing help and assistance – it made all the difference - we had a wonderful two days in the boutique hotel and were treated like royalty!
Amazing value too!”
Alice Edgecumbe-Rendle, Director at Edgcumbe Tea and Coffee Co Ltd, on her return to Sussex.
