CAFE COCANO - Haiti Specialty Coffee

NOTES: Pecan, sweet tobacco, Full bodied, smooth

COCANO (Cafèière et Cacaouyère du Nord Ouest) is a coffee and cacao producing cooperative in the northwest of Haiti. It is organized around a central depot where co ee cherries are processed, stored and prepared for export. The cooperative works with countless families, each growing small amounts of co ee in their own garden.

COCANO zone representatives buy co ee cherries from families in villages in the mountainous northwest as well as operating a model farm on the island of Totí. The significant premiums paid for freshly picked ripe coffee cherries make COCANO an important source of income for the families involved. They also manage a nursery which has donated thousands of young coffee trees to families across the northwest, growing the impact of their work. Like Hawaii’s Kona and Jamaica’s Blue Mountain, Haiti has its own variety of heirloom Typica coffee uniquely adapted to its mild Caribbean climate. Heirloom Typica trees, solely organic inputs and meticulous care at each step, from garden to depot, create an exceptional quality coffee.

The obstacles to coffee production in the northwest of Haiti are immense. Natural disasters including earthquakes and hurricanes have affected many promising harvests and basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity and access to water are limited and undependable.

After the devastating earthquake in 2010, international aid inadvertently introduced cholera to Haiti. Recent years of political violence have only exacerbated an already di cult situation. Although the northwest is more rural and economically isolated than much of the country, transportation, food insecurity and gang violence are continuing challenges.

We’ve travelled to the northwest often since 2011; visiting farms, building raised drying beds,roasting, tasting and talking together. We have offered evaluation and critical feedback for each lot of coffee produced since 2011 working together to identify and eliminate o  flavors and maximize positive attributes. This exceptionally sweet and full bodied co ee has a character all its own. Year over year our customers ask when it’s coming back and we eagerly await each harvest with you.

PRODUCER: COCANO co-op ORIGIN: ÎLE DE LA TORTUE, ANSE-A-FOLEUR,  LA CROIX ST. JOSEPH, GASPARD DEPARTMENT: Nord Oest ALTITUDE: 800 MASL AVG LATITUDE: 19° 93’ N VARIETY: Heirloom Typica PROCESS: Pulped Natural

Produced by the COCANO co-op in the Nord Oest region of Haiti, CAFE COCANO represents a unique offering from the Caribbean. This lot features the Heirloom Typica varietal, a plant historically significant for its role in the development of coffee cultivation across the Americas. The beans undergo a pulped natural process, a technique that bridges the gap between washed and natural methods by removing the skin of the cherry while leaving the mucilage intact during drying. This approach often results in a distinct mouthfeel and sweetness profile. Roasted by Panther Coffee, this selection highlights notes of pecan and sweet tobacco, characterized by a full-bodied and smooth finish. For those looking to better understand the nuances of these descriptors, consulting a flavor wheel can be a helpful tool for identifying the complex aromatic compounds found in such specialty lots.