About Elizabeth Guerrero of Peru

Peru's coffee journey began in the mid-18th century with Jesuit missionaries, but it remained primarily for domestic consumption until the late 1800s when British investment led to large-scale coffee estates. Through various historical shifts including the Agrarian Reform of the 1960s and the collapse of the International Coffee Agreement in 1989, Peru's coffee industry transformed from large estates to smallholder farms. Despite periods of economic and political turmoil, including the Shining Path movement, Peru's coffee sector persevered and found new opportunities through organic and Fair Trade certification.

Today, Peru stands as the world's largest exporter of certified organic coffee, with production spanning from Cajamarca in the north to Cusco and Puno in the south. The country's coffee landscape is dominated by smallholder farmers, who make up 75% of the country's 223,000 coffee producers, typically managing farms smaller than 3 hectares. With elevations exceeding 2,000 meters and unique microclimates, Peru's coffee potential is significant, particularly with its focus on traditional varieties like Typica, which accounts for over 70% of plantings. These natural advantages, combined with increasing quality-focused production, position Peru as an emerging origin for specialty coffee despite being often overshadowed by its neighbors Colombia and Brazil.

At El Eucalipto in La Coipa, Cajamarca, Elizabeth Guerrero produces certified organic specialty coffee focusing on Peru's traditional variety: Bourbon. She and her husband Milton intercrop coffee with corn, plantain and beans. We love Peruvian coffees for their sweetness and complexity, and this delicious lot from Elizabeth's farm features an exceptional combination of milk chocolate, grape, and maple pecan notes in the cup.