Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Pangoa

Amazonian Slopes, Central Peru

We took a chance on Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Pangoa (or simply, Pangoa), a small co-op on the Amazonian slopes of Central Peru back in 2003, being their first Fair Trade and Direct buyer. Since then, we have introduced this coffee to the specialty marketplace, and the sweet, soft beans prepared so well by indigenous Ashaninkas farmers have been in great demand in America and in Europe. We continue to enjoy the best of their crop in return for our long-term commitment.

Pangoa and Dean’s Beans have collaborated on the creation of many meaningful and successful initiatives together over the years. The coop has used our premiums, profit shares and development monies to create women’s loan funds, a great reforestation program, a honey project for income diversification, college education funds and more!

Useful Expressions

'Este café es muy dulce' - This coffee is very sweet. 
'Pienso que estoy en el colectivo incorrecto' - I think I'm on the wrong bus.

Our Peruvian Coffees

Peru is the forgotten child of the specialty coffee world. It is a huge country, so much so that the growing seasons differ by a month or so even within the same country. Peruvian coffees are notable for their mildness and sweetness, even though they are grown at really high altitudes on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes. They are better in a light roast than a dark roast, as the flavor and mild acidity roast away quickly. But a soft, sweet Peru is a subtle charm and can really be appreciated if you take your time with it. One of the most easily drinkable coffees black. Wonderful coffees come from Chanchamayo, Pangoa, and Lamas.

• Peruvian Carbon Neutral (Medium)
• Peruvian French Roast Decaf (Dark)
• Rattlesnake Gutter Brew (Medium-Dark)
• South American Half-Caf (Medium-Dark)
• Uprising! Breakfast Blend (Medium)
• Organic Peruvian Green (Unroasted) 

People-Centered Development Projects

"Restoring the Sacred" Reforestation Project (2006 - ongoing)

• Building nurseries and planting native trees to combat deforestation.
• 300,000 native trees planted.
• Enough trees planted to offset all carbon emissions created by all of Dean's Beans, making us a Carbon Negative company!
• Obtained Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center Bird-Friendly certification.
• Solar panels and a training center are in the works!
• Funding commitment to date: $30,350

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center "Bird-Friendly" Program (2021 - ongoing)

• Started planning programs with SMBC for Pangoa to share "Bird-Friendly" best practices with other co-ops.
• Funding commitment to date: $10,000

• Offers credit to female coop members for income generating projects.
• Funding: $10,000

• Funding modern bathroom construction on farms in Pangoa.
• Funding: $7,000

English Teaching (2012 - ongoing)

• Program sends interns to teach English.
• Funding to date: $1,000

• Sponsor co-op General Manager travel to international events, in order to speak about supporting women in the coffee industry.
• As of 2021, Esperanza is Pangoa's Advisor and Human Resources Manager, and our Benefit Director on our Board of Directors! 

New Honey Business (2004)

• Worked with Pangoa to create a honey product for local sale and distribution to help supplement farmers' income.
• Funding commitment: $2,700

First Fair Trade Buyer in Pangoa (2003)