We picked this coffee at a cupping event we ran in Southsea earlier this summer — it was one of the coffees on the table we were considering buying, and feedback from the group helped us make the decision.

Bernabé Padilla is a third-generation coffee grower from La Coipa, Cajamarca, who started farming at just fourteen years old when his father gifted him half a hectare. Over time he inherited two more and began developing his own approach — one rooted in tradition but with a real focus on quality. He has been growing specialty coffee for nine years and works closely with his wife Neydi, who plays a key role in drying and daily operations.

His farm, Finca El Babaco, takes its name from the tropical fruit that grows alongside the coffee trees. It sits at 1,886 metres above sea level, close to the Tabaconas-Namballe Reserve, which provides a unique microclimate ideal for the varieties he grows — Bourbon Rojo, Gesha and Catimor.

This coffee works well black and also with milk.

Suitable for / Whole Bean, Aeropress, Filter, Cafetière, Espresso, Stove Top
Notes / Peaches, Tropical Fruits, Florals & Caramel

Producer / Bernabé Padilla Chinguel
Farm / Finca El Babaco
Region / La Coipa, San Ignacio, Cajamarca
Altitude / 1,886 MASL
Variety / Bourbon Rojo, Gesha, Catimor
Process / Washed
Importer / Caravela