El Carmen

Producer

El Carmen

El Carmen is a small town near Acevedo in southern Huila, where 60 smallholders formed an association in 2017 to gain more control over their coffee’s value. Frustrated by low commodity prices, Mauricio Benavidez spearheaded the effort and connected with Raw Material, who committed to buying a full container. Though the first season was met with local scepticism, the model proved successful once payments came in, and more farmers joined. Since 2020, we’ve been sourcing El Carmen’s decaf through Raw Material. Their transparency and consistent quality have made them a valued part of our offering. The association now produces up to five containers of specialty-grade coffee per year, with part of the volume blended into community lots and others sold as microlots or experiments in variety and processing.

High-altitude plots, rich volcanic soil and a mild climate shape this clean, sweet decaf from the hills of southern Huila.

The farmers of El Carmen cultivate their small plots—typically 2 to 5 hectares—between 1200 and 1800 masl in the hills of Huila. The climate is mild, and the volcanic soil is well-suited to coffee, with most farmers growing Caturra, Castillo and Colombia varieties. Each crop season includes several careful harvest rounds, with the main harvest in September–October and a fly crop in May–June. For this lot, cherries are washed and decaffeinated using the sugarcane process—an organic method using ethyl acetate derived from fermented sugarcane and pure water from the Nevado del Ruiz volcano. This method preserves the coffee’s natural sweetness while gently removing caffeine. Raw Material has invested in a cupping lab and community centre in El Carmen, providing tools and knowledge that help producers improve quality and consistency. The group is also experimenting with new varieties like ombligón and papayo, contributing to a more resilient and diverse coffee future.