Coopchebi
Where coffee grows, change can grow too: the story of Coopchebi
In our daily work with coffee, we don’t just look for aromas and flavors. We look for stories. Stories of people, of land, and of brave decisions.
The Peruvian cooperative Coopchebi is one of them.
Founded in 1942, Coopchebi now brings together about 150 small-scale producers in the regions of Junin and Pasco, in the heart of Peru. Their coffees are both organic and Fairtrade certified — a double mark of quality: for those who drink, and for those who produce. The Fairtrade label ensures that products are made according to strict social, environmental, and economic criteria, guaranteeing fair wages and decent working conditions.
But Coopchebi is much more than that.
In 2019, a major crisis hit the area. With global coffee prices falling, many farmers chose to replace their coffee plants with coca, a crop destined for the illegal drug trade. It was a more profitable short-term choice — but one with serious social, environmental, and legal consequences.
“Where coffee grows, coca can grow,” they say in Peru. Coopchebi refused to accept this reality.
Instead, they chose to invest in high-quality coffee varieties, providing training and support to make legal coffee cultivation economically viable. This was their way to protect the community, preserve agricultural identity, and offer farmers a dignified alternative.
At Le Piantagioni del Caffè, we’ve chosen to support this supply chain not only because the coffee is exceptional, but because behind every bean is a conscious, courageous, and just choice.
Supporting Coopchebi means supporting a different kind of economy — one that prioritizes people, legality, and sustainability.
