STORY

Coffee cultivation in a world heritage site!? History of coffee in the Galapagos Islands


The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,000 km west of mainland Ecuador, and are a world-renowned UNESCO-registered natural heritage site.
Did you know that coffee is grown here?

We would like to introduce you to the rare Galapagos coffee.

The first coffee plantation was established here in 1866. Although there was a temporary hiatus in the late 19th century, production resumed in earnest in the 1990s as demand for specialty coffee grew. Today, organically grown, high-quality "Galapagos Coffee" is produced in small quantities (only 3,000 to 5,000 bags per year), but it has received high praise both domestically and internationally.

The History of Coffee in the Galapagos Islands


In 1835, British Manabu Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands and observed the unique flora and fauna of the island, which inspired his theory of evolution. Although Galapagos is located directly on the equator, the temperature is low due to the influence of cold ocean currents, and the climate and environment are intricately intertwined with the trade winds, creating an environment rich in diversity.

Coffee was first brought to the Galapagos Islands in 1866. Manuel J. Cobos arrived on San Cristobal Island and established a colony called "El Progreso". He imported Bourbon beans from French Polynesia and opened a farm called "El Cafetal" on 1,000 hectares of land. However, in 1904, the workers revolted and Cobos was killed, so the farm was abandoned for a long time.

After World War II, when the Ecuadorian government regained territorial rights over the Galapagos Islands, migration from the mainland increased. People who migrated from El Oro and Loja provinces began to grow coffee on a small scale for their own consumption and for local consumption. Then, in the 1990s, when the specialty coffee boom arrived, the Gonzalez family rebuilt "El Cafetal" in Cobos. In the 2000s, production spread to Santa Cruz Island, and full-scale production and sales of Galapagos coffee began.

Current Galapagos Coffee Production

Coffee production at La Primavera Farm on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands

Since 97% of the Galapagos Islands are designated as national parks, only 2% of the land can be used for coffee plantations. Under the supervision of the government's Ministry of Agriculture (MAGAP), producers are organized into cooperatives and are committed to producing high-quality, high-added-value coffee.

The use of chemical Manabu fertilizer is prohibited by law in the Galapagos Islands, so all coffee produced there is organic. However, due to serious damage caused by pests such as fire ants, some producers are forced to use chemical Manabu pesticides, despite their own preferences.

Many of the farms are located in lowlands just below the equator, but the cold ocean currents create an environment equivalent to that of highlands over 1,000 meters above sea level. The main varieties are Bourbon , which accounts for 89%, followed by Typica , 8%, and Caturra , 3%. Annual production is usually 3,000 to 4,000 bags, with a legal limit of 5,000 bags.

All production is managed by Expigo, Ecuador's largest coffee exporter. Expigo sets high standards for quality control and is committed to promoting Galapagos coffee as a specialty coffee. Galapagos coffee is highly valued worldwide for its unique and complex flavor, and is traded at high prices.

Enjoy the rare Galapagos coffee at CROWD ROASTER !


CROWD ROASTER is now selling a special tasting set featuring coffee from La Primavera Farm on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands, roasted by popular Shizuoka roaster ETHICUS Yamazaki !

Please enjoy this rare coffee, which has flavors such as apple and chamomile.