Behind the Beans: Great Coffee Starts with Great Farmers

At Mariposa Coffee, exceptional coffee begins long before it reaches our roaster. It starts with dedicated farmers who carefully cultivate coffee in some of the world’s most renowned growing regions.

One of the coffees we proudly source comes from the Gayo Highlands of Aceh, Sumatra. Sumatra is a staple coffee used in all of our dark roasts and a few medium roast blends. Grown at elevations of 3,300–5,500 feet in rich volcanic soil, this coffee offers the bold character Sumatra is famous for. Expect notes of cedar, dark chocolate, and brown sugar with a rich body and smooth finish.

Our Sumatra coffee comes from Koperasi Buana Mandiri (KBM), a cooperative of more than 1,300 smallholder farmers spread across 20 villages. Most families farm just a few acres, caring for their coffee trees by hand and passing down generations of agricultural knowledge.

Quality is a top priority for both KBM and Mariposa Coffee. This coffee earns an 84+ cupping score, well above the specialty coffee standard of 80 points. In fact, every coffee we roast meets specialty-grade standards because we believe our customers deserve the very best.

Just as important as quality, is ensuring farmers are fairly compensated for their work. KBM is both organic and Fair Trade certified, but we go a step further by paying prices above Fair-Trade minimums. Those additional dollars go directly back to the cooperative, helping fund farm improvements, agronomy training, equipment, and long-term sustainability projects that benefit farming families.

When you enjoy a cup of Mariposa Coffee, you’re not just tasting a carefully selected specialty coffee. You’re supporting a network of hardworking farmers who are committed to producing exceptional coffee while building stronger communities for future generations.

That’s coffee worth feeling good about.

Coffee not Tasting Like it Used To? (Check the Equipment)

We all know the feeling – we have things in our home that, whether by regular use or the passing of time, slowly get dirty. When we get around to cleaning it, it catches us by surprise every time we walk in the room. Of course, your next thought is “Geez, that was dirty. Why did I wait so long to clean it?”

Believe it or not, the inside of your coffee maker is also one of those household items and there is a few ways this happens.

Moisture: We fill our coffee pots with water each use. Sometimes, we fill them the night before and set the timer for the morning. We enjoy the coffee but leave the top of the reservoir closed when finished. Open this occasionally to let it air dry.
Old Grounds: Coffee grounds are small and can get into the nooks and crannies of our
coffee maker. Perhaps some fell into the water reservoir when we fill the basket, sometimes the basket can overflow and grinds fall back into the reservoir. Occasionally, use a paper towel to wipe grounds out of the inside of the reservoir. PRO TIP: if the reservoir is narrow, put the paper towel on the end of something skinny, like the handle of a wooden spatula.
Coffee residue: Each time we brew, residual amounts of the brewed coffee can adhere to the inside of the brew basket and coffee pot. As this accumulates, it can lead to hints of old coffee making its way into the next brew. Occasionally remove the brew basket and coffee pot and put them in the dishwasher.
Hard water (BIGGEST CULPRIT): Many regions have issues with hard water. This will lead to calcium build-up inside the coffee pot. Every few months, fill the coffee maker with 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water (1:2) and run the cleaning cycle on the machine. If your coffee maker does not have a cleaning cycle, then brew the vinegar solution twice. After running the vinegar, run the cleaning cycle two more times with water-only to remove lingering vinegar flavor (believe us, you wouldn’t like the vinegar notes). Then wash the removable components. This cleaning can make a BIG difference in the coffee taste.

If it’s been a while since the coffee maker has been cleaned, you will have that “Geez, why did I wait this long?” feeling with your next cup of coffee!

Disclaimer: this advice is for drip coffee makers. If using an espresso, follow the manufacture recommendations. Bottom line – clean equipment leads to better tasting coffee.