SLOW MEDIUM ROAST FILTER COFFEE
DARK CHOCOLATE, RAISINS
AND FRUIT CARAMEL
We work slowly and at nature's pace - to fulfill our mission of growing great coffee and preserving and regenerating the world's forests.
Slow Coffee is grown by 140 individual smallholder families on the Bolaven Plateau in Laos, whom all grow their coffee under the gentle shade of trees, practicing the art of agroforestry.
This coffee lot was grown by the following Slow farmers. Please click through to visit their farms and learn more about them:
FAMILY BOUNKHONG
HOUAY SOIY VILLAGE
TOTAL HECTARES: 4
FARM ALTITUDE: 1033m
HOUSEHOLD SIZE: 7 PEOPLE
Mr. Bounkhong, with his wife, Mrs. Phet, and their children, are happily residing in a small and quiet village of Houysoy in Bolaven Plateau.
The family cultivates a four-hectare farm located in an area with an altitude of 1033masl since 2012. They are very keen on growing coffee because it is their primary source of livelihood. The canopy trees surrounding the coffee protect it from harsh weather conditions and diseases. Their family believes that practicing old farming techniques, will help produce high-quality coffee beans. They use a natural way of farming to keep their trees away from chemical-based fertilizers or pesticides.
As a parent, Mr. Bounkhong is very proud of how much his son loves the day-to-day activities on the farm. He is in charge of picking ripened cherries for processing, while Mrs. Phet prunes the branches regularly. Proper management plus commitment are the keys to maintain the distinctive taste of their coffee.
Drinking coffee or tea has been part of Mr. Bounkhong and his family’s daily routine. The family spends quality time together through watching movies, listening to music, or eating beef salad, chicken soup, and grilled meat. If not at home or on his farm, Mr. Bounkhong is outside driving his small tractor.
FAMILY BOUNKHONG'S FARMS
FAMILY BOUNKHONG'S FARMS
FAMILY PHET'S FARMS
FAMILY PHET
NONG LUANG VILLAGE
TOTAL HECTARES: 2.57
FARM ALTITUDE: 1271m
HOUSEHOLD SIZE: 4 PEOPLE
Mr. Phet and his wife, Mrs. Khai with their two children, are living in a peaceful village of Nongloung in Bolaven Plateau of Laos. It was the year 1998 when he settled down in the village.
In 2011, Mr. Phet and his family begun cultivating a variety of coffee on the 2.5-hectare farm with an altitude of 1263masl. They are known to be a hardworking family in their village. The children take after their parents, they are very passionate and dedicated to helping in the activities on the farm after the school day.
According to Mr. Phet, they use a technique that involves picking the best coffee seeds to be developed on their farm. This way, they can be sure that the coffee will produce high-quality beans. More so, the family continues to save the forest that protects their livelihood. They plant other trees along with their coffee to keep the balance in nature. Mrs. Khai works as hard as her husband to ensure that the coffee grows naturally and yields good cherries.
As a family, they appreciate each other’s company while enjoying different kinds of food – grilled beef, fish soup, and papaya salad. They spend their free time watching music videos and listening to traditional songs.
FAMILY YO'S FARMS
FAMILY YO
NONG LUANG VILLAGE
TOTAL HECTARES: 0.89
FARM ALTITUDE: 1253m
HOUSEHOLD SIZE: 4 PEOPLE
In 2001, Mr. Yo, with his wife, Mrs. Phim, and their two children, settled in a small village of Nongloung in Bolaven Plateau.
Mr. Yo and his family grow coffee since 2012 on his 2.5 hectares farm situated in an elevated and forested area with suitable temperature and nutrient-rich soil. They plant different trees between their coffee trees to provide shade and protection. His interest in farming begun when he met his wife, Mrs. Phim and they decided to try coffee growing as a livelihood. It was not an easy path for the couple. But Mr. Yo’s determination to learn tips and techniques in farming helped him to be one of the expert farmers in their village.
Their family spends most of their time on the farm. Every after school day, his two children help in cleaning the farm, pruning the coffee brunches, and harvesting coffee cherries. They all work hard to improve their livelihood and produce high-quality coffee beans. Aside from maintaining the farm, they also takes good care of the forest through reforestation.
After a tiring day from the farm, Mr. Yo and his family love to eat grilled meat and chicken soup together. Mr. Yo enjoys watching movies, boxing or football competition. Sometimes, the family’s rest day consists of dancing and singing along to different songs.
