The community of Monserrate straddles a ridge in the beautiful Cordillera Central mountain range in the southwestern state of Huila. At the top of the road is a large, brick church that houses a shrine to the Virgen de Monserrate, a statue of a black Virgin Mary.
Most residents of Monserrate and surrounding communities are small-scale farmers who grow coffee as a cash crop. While the blended coffee from Monserrate has always been fantastic, a competition began a few years ago to see who could produce the best lot.
The first farmers who built relationships with roasters served as models of success for the rest of the community, and each year brings higher quality coffees, freshly motivated farmers and an opportunity for roasters and producers to connect in a uniquely personal way. Today, Monserrate’s coffee is still purchased at a high premium over the internal price for conventional coffee, and promotes the majority of their production under the community’s name.
