17th December

Origin

Vamay Coffee is a family-run business from Santa María de Dota, Costa Rica, an area renowned worldwide for its high-quality coffee. Founded in March 2020 amid the COVID crisis, the company is led by Doña Mayra, who, along with her son and two daughters, is dedicated to producing exceptional coffee and providing an unforgettable experience for every customer. By focusing on creating added value, they aim to secure better and more equitable opportunities in both national and international coffee markets.

As a micro-business committed to social and environmental well-being, Vamay Coffee operates under the belief that all food and beverage production should be sustainable. Their coffee is cultivated on Alto el Vapor Farm, where 90% of the land is protected. The farm also has springs that supply water to parts of the Santa María de Dota community, and the family is committed to preserving these vital resources. The coffee plants thrive at altitudes between 1,800 and 2,100 meters, making Vamay Coffee a high-altitude offering. These factors, combined with traceability, allow Vamay Coffee to guarantee excellence, dedication, and care in every bean.

Living in a rural area, the family integrates sustainable development practices at Alto el Vapor Farm. While their primary goal is to produce specialty coffee—both green and roasted for the local market—they also cultivate a variety of crops alongside the coffee plants, including citrus fruits, bananas, root vegetables, and leafy greens. This approach helps them avoid monocropping and promotes a circular economy. The latest harvest, gathered in February 2024, was fermented on a patio under a thick cover for 48 hours before being moved to raised beds to dry for 15 days, reaching a moisture content of 11%.

Mayra and her daughter Dalila participate in learning groups established by Bean Voyage, a feminist non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women coffee producers and addressing the gender gap in farming communities. Delfina, the second daughter, serves as a Care Facilitator for Bean Voyage, working to strengthen community ties.

Bean Voyage supports 120 smallholder women farmers in Costa Rica, creating women-only discussion groups that foster confidence and provide a safe space for sharing experiences. They offer both in-person and digital training, focusing on advanced technology to track progress and assess knowledge. A significant part of their curriculum emphasizes biodiversity preservation and environmental stewardship to combat climate change and align production with local ecosystems. Each farmer receives at least 80 hours of training across five modules: farm finance, production, processing, quality analysis, and gender/community issues.

Bean Voyage also helps find better markets for sustainably produced micro-lots, ensuring fair prices. As a result, smallholder farming families typically see a 300% increase in income from farm-related activities after joining Bean Voyage, thanks to improved coffee quality and enhanced market access.

Recipe:

Method: V60
Grind setting: 24 clicks on Comandante
Temperature: 93 °C
Coffee amount: 18 g
Brew Time: 2:45

0:00 – 50 g bloom
0:30 – up to 120 g
1:00 – up to 210 g
1:30 – up to 300 g