Slow Brew
We are pleased to introduce a new coffee blend, specifically designed for filter brewing, aptly Slow Brew to launch our official partnership with the Slow Food Movement. Slow Food is a worldwide community working to make food better for everyone. It celebrates flavour, local food culture and champions the people who produce what we eat, while promoting farming that protects nature and fairer treatment and pay across the food chain. Its aim is simple: good food, made responsibly and available to all.
This release brings together two distinctive expressions of specialty coffee from Colombia and Uganda. Although these coffees come from different growing regions and producer communities, both share a commitment to careful cultivation, selective harvesting, quality-focused processing and the support of organisations working closely with smallholder farmers. The result is a release that combines the juicy, sweet character of Huila with the fruity depth and fresh aromatics of Mount Elgon.
Colombia
The Colombian component comes from 24 producers based primarily in the La Plata municipality of Huila. These growers contribute their individual lots to Caravela’s buying hub, where the coffees are assessed for quality before being purchased and prepared for export.
The main contribution to this most recent outturn came from Artemo Quebrada Collo, whose farm, La Chorrera, has achieved ‘Legend’ status through Caravela’s PECA program. The Coffee Growers Education Program supports producers through agronomical training, farm visits and practical guidance, helping them to improve both the quality and consistency of their coffee.
The Colombian farms are generally small, ranging from around 1 to 5 hectares. They are planted with a combination of Caturra, Castillo and Variedad Colombia, at altitudes ranging from approximately 1,750 to 2,100 metres above sea level. Shade trees are dotted throughout the farms, including Cachingo, Guamo, also known as Ice-cream Bean, Carbonero, citrus and avocado trees.
The fertile soils, which contain volcanic ash deposits, combine with the high altitudes, carefully selected varieties and ongoing agronomical support to create ideal conditions for producing clean and sweet coffees.
Caravela typically operates an 80/20 model, working primarily with smallholder farmers alongside a smaller number of producers with larger estates. In their latest impact report, 87% of their producing partners had farms of less than 5 hectares. More than half of the producers they worked with had been visited by the PECA team, while in Colombia alone Caravela works with 1,746 producers across 52 communities.
Uganda
The Ugandan component marks our second year of working with Zukuka Bora and brings back a fruity coffee from the remote community of Bulaago on Mount Elgon, close to the border with Kenya.
Coffee in Bulaago is grown by smallholder farmers, with a typical family looking after between 20 and 200 coffee trees. Rather than relying on the production of one individual farm, volumes are therefore built through the wider community. The area is remote and can be difficult to access, particularly during periods of heavy rain and mudslides.
The volcanic soils are rich and fertile, while growing altitudes range from 1,950 to 2,100 metres above sea level. These conditions are well suited to producing high-quality arabica coffee. The coffee grown here is a field blend of the SL14 and SL28 cultivars, varieties known for their ability to produce vibrant and expressive cups when grown and processed with care.
Zukuka Bora was established by JENGA, an NGO based in Mbale in Eastern Uganda, to help unlock the potential of the region and work towards greater prosperity for local coffee farmers. The name Zukuka Bora means ‘Revive!’ or ‘Wake Up the Best!’, reflecting the area’s history as a producer of excellent specialty coffee.
After picking, ripe cherries are delivered to the central processing station, typically by motorcycle taxi. They undergo rigorous hand sorting and floating before being depulped and fermented in the traditional manner. The coffee is then fully washed and dried on raised beds. Day lots are kept separate and cupped individually so their flavour qualities can be assessed before being blended together.
The work of Zukuka Bora extends beyond coffee production. After discussions with grower members about how the group could create wider social benefits, the association helped establish a women’s community group, trained community health workers, introduced a goat-rearing program, offered education support and facilitated clean water schemes.
In the cup
Together, the Colombian and Ugandan coffees create a release that is sweet, fruity and highly expressive. The Colombian lots bring brown sugar and soft apple sweetness with a clean, lingering finish, while the Ugandan component adds citrus accents, a refined silky sweetness and fresh aromatics.
Both coffees are rooted in high-altitude farming, volcanic soils and close collaboration between producers and their supporting organisations. In the cup, this comes together beautifully when brewed slowly, creating a juicy, moreish cup with bags of character and heart.
