Coffee Story
Dionisio Chingel Peña is a respected elder in the PAWQARA co-op and coffee collective group, and his involvement has provided the project with leadership and a local stamp of approval, ensuring it receives the attention it needs to thrive. Grown with so much care in the beautifully renowned Cajamarca region, in the San Ignacio Province of Chirinos, within the El Corazón zone. The specific Caturra lot is cultivated with heart and soul on the quaint pueblo of Shimania in a special mix of old and new alluvial soil at 1700 and 1800 meters above sea level. Once picked at peak ripeness, it undergoes a very careful washing process.
The PAWQARA co-op is truly a community of friends, neighbours, and families in the Chirinos district united to sell their coffee. Founded in 2022, the cooperative is led by husband-and-wife teams: Lily Heredia and Neptaly Santos, along with Angel Noriega and Cati Simon of Mikel Coffee, and Emily and Michael McIntyre of Swift Coffee Sourcing.
Frustrated with producing high-quality coffees that often ended up in regional blends at local cooperatives, the founders envisioned a strong women-led group dedicated to improving the entire community. PAWQARA: Mujeres Fuertes y Resilientes (PAWQARA: Strong and Resilient Women) has expanded over the years to include male family members and other relatives. In just a few more years, the co-op aims to export three full containers of high-quality coffee annually, sold by Swift Coffee Sourcing to roasters who value the production process as much as the product itself.
Each member's farm is small, nestled in the mountains. The family and community connections with residents from Pirias, El Corazón, La Lima, Shimanía Baja and Alta, as well as Balcones, create a unique blend of flavours and fragrances, enriching the region with harmony and growth. With support for exports, a quality control laboratory has now been established, giving producers greater confidence by verifying coffee quality at the time of delivery.
