Origin

Calama, Caranavi, Bolivia

Coffee cultivation in Calama, a subregion within Caranavi province, La Paz, Bolivia, is intertwined with the broader history of coffee farming in the Yungas valleys. Although coffee was introduced to Bolivia in the late 18th century, significant cultivation in Calama began in the mid-20th century. A key turning point was the 1953 agrarian reform, which redistributed land to indigenous and rural families, prompting migration from the Andean highlands to the Yungas. Families in Calama established smallholder farms, and through the 1970s and 1980s, coffee emerged as an alternative to coca farming, supported by legislative efforts like Law 1008.

By the 1990s, coffee farming in Calama expanded with cooperatives like Cooperativa Mejillones, which organised local production and promoted improved practices, including washed processing and eco-friendly methods. Farms in Calama, located between 1,350 and 1,700 meters above sea level, benefit from high elevation and a cool climate, allowing slow cherry maturation and resulting in clean, floral, and fruit-forward cup profiles.

Despite national production declines due to price volatility and infrastructure challenges, Calama remains part of Bolivia's specialty coffee resurgence. Smallholders with deep generational ties, a cooperative spirit, and a commitment to quality are gaining international recognition.