COOPCAB, Coffee Growers Cooperative of the Belle-Anse Area, is a cooperative that regroups 7 cooperatives in the South-East of Haiti. This cooperative is certified « Fair Trade » since 1999 and counts 4000 members of whom 788 are women.
Coffee is produced on 2663 Ha located near the ecological reserve of the Blue Pine Forest. The coffee plantations are at an altitude between 800 and 1600 meters above sea level. The rainfall and the clay and karstic soils on which the coffee grows gives it special characteristics, unique to the Haitian coffee.
The Arabica Typica produced and then is washed in one of the 17 processing mills owned by the cooperative ( seven primary treatment stations, 8 secondary treatment stations, one drying station and one final treatment station). The natural environment and the members’ know-how give COOPCAB’s coffee special and unique attributes.
COOPCAB produces an average of 20 000 bags of 60 kg per year. Since 2001, COOPCAB is selling its coffee on the European, American and Japanese
market under the Fair Trade system. Those sales has considerably increased the members’ revenue.
Kafé Kreyol offers three blends of 100% Arabica Typica coffee, handpick, washed and meticulously roasted by the Cooperative. Choose from Kafé Gwo Chwal, Marre Blanche Coffee or Blue Pine Forest Coffee, each offering unique aromas and flavors.
Kafé Gwo Chwal
Gwo Chwal (Creole for « Big Horse ») comes from the area that bears the same name and which is located in the West Department of Haiti. Like all COOPCAB’s coffees, it is sundried. Kafe Gwo Chwal comes from an altitude of 1500 to 1600 meters above sea level. It is perhaps the very best gourmet coffee from Haiti. The coffee coming from this region displays very good physical and sensorial characteristics. Cupping the Gwo Chwal has been a delight for international cuppers because of its superb fragrance, good aroma and a citric aftertaste. It has a good acidity and a medium body.
Marre Blanche Coffee
This coffee comes from the area that bears the same name, in the South East mountains of Haiti. It comes from an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level. Marre Blanche Coffee has a very strong aroma with a citrus and grassy aftertaste. Marre Blanche green coffee beans were the best seller in 2009 in the Japanese market. It presents a superb aroma and a strong fragrance, as well as a good acidity and a medium body. Marre Blanche Coffee is enjoyed by coffee connoisseur without sugar because of its natural sweetness and its great aftertaste.
Blue Pine Forest Coffee
Blue Pine Forest coffee comes from the best coffee production region of Haiti called Thiotte (where is also located the head office of COOPCAB), in the South East section of the country. It comes from an altitude of 1300 to 1350 meter. The bean has very good sensorial characteristics. Its cup is characterized by a superb fragrance and aroma, a balanced acidity, a medium body and a very good residual flavour. All the coffee beans are sundried which explains the superb bluish color of the beans. Blue Pine Forest coffee is considered by the Italian connoisseur as the very best coffee for espresso with a very thick cream and a strong body.