Colombia Mama Sierra from Illegal Beans is a coffee with backbone, combining the strength of coffee and the female community into one. The taste beautifully combines the sweetness of milk chocolate with the juiciness of cherries. It feels like a melting Mon Chéri candy – sweet, delicate, but with a slight surprise in the form of fruity juiciness. The body is creamy and velvety, making the coffee feel like a liquid dessert. It is a feminist cup that can warm and entertain, as sweetness and fruitiness alternate in a pleasant rhythm, revealing something new with every sip.
Behind this coffee are 15 women from Antioquia, Colombia, who decided that growing and trading coffee would not be just a man's business. Together, they founded the Mama Sierra project, which allows them to run their own farms, set the prices for their work, and educate other women growers in their community. With the support of The Coffee Quest project, they have managed to create not only stable production, but also space for women's independence and self-confidence in an environment where this was not common before. Every cup of this coffee is not only about taste, but also supports the independence, self-confidence, and future of women.
The beans grow at an altitude of 1,950 meters above sea level, where slower ripening helps develop a richer flavor. The Caturra and Castillo varieties are processed using the washed method – after harvesting, the cherries are hulled, fermented, and repeatedly washed with clean water. This allows the coffee to retain its purity, clearly discernible fruity notes, and smooth sweetness. Drying then takes place on the farms under the direct supervision of the growers, so that each bean passes through hands that know exactly what they are doing. The result is a cup that combines the delicacy of chocolate with the fruity character of sour cherries – and also carries with it a piece of the story of women who said: Now it's our turn!