Mamani Family, Bolivia — April 2026
APRIL SUBSCRIPTION
My dear subscribers,
Next subscription roasted this coming Tuesday!
The April coffee release showcased a coffee that is very familiar to us and was a nice difference in profile from the previous coffee subscription release (Rocket Flower). We endeavour to supply you with quality and expression first, but we also try our best to offer variety and showcase a diverse flavour spectrum.
Mamani Family, Bolivia
We have been buying from the Mamani family for four years. Sometimes we purchase coffee from a combined family lot, and other times from a separated lot specifically from Juana Mamani. The Mamani family is recognised in the region for their positive impact on the coffee industry in the province of Caranavi, Bolivia. They are first-generation coffee producers. This is significant because it shows that coffee remains a worthwhile pursuit if we focus on quality.
The family started their specialty coffee journey when Juana Mamani bought a small plot of land with her savings at age 16. She now runs it with her husband and extended family. With the help of sustainable practices, both economic and environmental, the Mamani family has greatly increased the quality and the volume of the coffee they are able to produce. The importance of this is that more jobs and wealth stay in the local region as they hire more pickers to work the farm.
The Mamani family works very closely with the Rodriquez family, a local exporter. Originally, the Rodriquez family were only exporters that purchased coffee cherries and processed coffee into a sellable raw product. But, when the coffee quality kept dipping, and the plants got wiped out by leaf rust, the Rodriquez family started building their own farms to become a melting pot of education, experimentation and agricultural projects. The Sol De La Mañana program, which the Mamani family is part of, is all about bringing those ideas to the local farmers. Both these families show how a community is built by collective effort and problem-solving, not just one individual.
We love this aspect of the "Many". We always find ourselves still so drawn to a story – a coffee with a story and a positive impact is so much greater than just a great coffee. We celebrate human collaboration! We bought this coffee from Melbourne Coffee Merchants, who equally feel so drawn to people and their stories.
We constantly think about all the amazing work that happens when we drink this coffee. We hope that with this further context, the coffee's meaning has a greater hold on you, too, beyond its delicious and delicate profile.
Take care,
Ben