At Encantado Coffee, we source all our beans from small fincas in Colombia’s coffee growing region, commonly known as the Coffee Axis. But why Colombia? Apart from growing some of the best coffee beans known to man, Colombia’s coffee region boasts a unique cultural heritage based on small family coffee farms. Both co-founders of Encantado Coffee, Sierra and Camilo, have personal ties to the Coffee Axis (read more about us here), which inspires our mission to support its farmers and legacy.
We are not the only ones interested in preserving the unique culture of the Colombian Coffee Axis: in 2011, UNESCO declared the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia a World Heritage Site deemed of exceptional value to humanity. Learn why this region is so special and what we are doing to help preserve it:
Pictured above: Map showing the Eje Cafetero (Coffee Axis) in Colombia (By Milenioscuro - Own work Mapa territorial del Eje Cafetero Mapa de la ecorregión del Eje Cafetero Ubicación del SIRAP-EC, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Origins of the Coffee Axis
Centuries before the Spanish colonization of Colombia, the Coffee Axis was home to the skilled Quimbaya people, renowned for crafting intricate gold objects that grace Colombian museums today. Unfortunately, the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century marked a dark chapter. The Spanish lust for wealth led to the enslavement of indigenous peoples in gold mines (which also wreaked ecological havoc), the plundering of Quimbaya graves, and ultimately the decimation of the region. It wasn’t until almost 300 years later in the 19th century that the region underwent the "Colonización antioqueña” (Antioquian Colonization), transforming it from a desolate mining backwater into the modern Coffee Axis.
The Antioquian Colonization began when Colombians from the department of Antioquia began migrating southward after Colombian independence and forming the small towns of the Coffee Axis at the 2,000-meter mark, where a perfect climate for coffee awaited. Remarkably, these towns were founded on the principles of small, single-plot family homesteads, challenging the vast land grants to elites during the colonial period. This democratic style of land use is still practiced today and is fundamental to the culture that has developed in the region.
Pictured above: A street view in Salento, Quindío, one of the coffee growing towns founded during the Antioquian Colonization in 1842. (source: Sierra Roberts, 2019)
Coffee arrived in the region in the mid to late 19th century, and quickly became popular with farmers because it made possible a year-round intense agricultural usage of their land. Coffee cultivation brought wealth and identity to the region. It also led to the creation of the Caldas department, which would later split into the three departments that form the core of the modern Coffee Axis: Risaralda, Quindío, and Caldas.
UNESCO Recognition
The Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia was officially recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site deemed of exceptional value to humanity in 2011, citing the region as “An exceptional example of a sustainable and productive cultural landscape that is unique and representative of a tradition that is a strong symbol for coffee growing areas worldwide” (UNESCO).
Pictured above: Finca Santa Elena, home of our Santa Elena Coffee, and an example of a classic small coffee farm in the Coffee Growing Axis of Colombia.
This recognition bestowed a great responsibility on the Colombian government and various organizations to preserve the Coffee Axis’ historical legacy. This has had tangible impacts, such as the suspension of hydrocarbon exploration. However, the coffee axis still faces challenges, including illegal gold mining, the use of agrochemicals, fertilizers and pesticides, water wastage, and extensive farming leading to soil erosion. In recent years, climate change has also become a huge issue for coffee farmers as warmer temperatures mean coffee can no longer grow at lower elevations. It is going to take more than just the UNESCO designation to protect this beautiful land and its culture; we must actively fight for its protection and support the activists and farmers in the Coffee Axis who work to pass on their cultural heritage to the next generation.
The UNESCO World Heritage status has also brought positive changes to the communities within the Coffee Axis. It has opened doors to increased tourism, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the enchanting coffee culture while diversifying the rural economy of the region. The protection this designation has brought to the region’s farmers has significantly improved their quality of life, allowing them to continue teaching their cultural traditions to the younger generations without fear of displacement.
Encantado Coffee's Commitment:
One of the biggest problems facing the Coffee Axis today is the ever-fluctuating global price of coffee. This uncontrollable factor can decimate communities and has been causing an exodus of farmers from the coffee industry in Colombia, which could cause the collapse of the unique cultural heritage of this region. That is why at Encantado Coffee, we consistently pay above fair market price for our coffee and ensure that we purchase the highest-quality coffee available, which yields more income for farmers compared to lower-quality production. Additionally, we ensure that the farmers we purchase from pay their workers fairly and use sustainable agricultural practices to keep themselves and their environment safe.
We care not just about excellent coffee, but also about the people who grow it. We want our customers to enjoy the finest single origin Colombian coffees AND for the farmers who produced it to be fairly compensated for their labor. That’s what makes us different from so many big coffee corporations out there: when you purchase our coffee, your money isn’t going to benefit billionaire shareholders. It’s going to benefit farmers in Colombia who have been carrying down the traditions of their ancestors for generations. You can read about the farmers who produce our coffee and the amazing work they are doing in their community on our blog.
The Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia is one of the most special places in the world and produces some of the most special coffee in the world. We are proud to bring you this culture and coffee that has been so carefully produced by the caficultores of Colombia. The region is truly an example of how small farms can coexist with their environments while providing cultural and material sustenance for the families who live there. It is our hope that by supporting these small farms, their traditions can continue on for generations to come.