Washed Colombian Coffee from Nuevo Milenio Farmers in Montserrat

In rural Montserrat, southwest of Huila, Colombia, most coffee farmers operate on tiny plots and have traditionally sold their beans as a bulk commodity for quick cash. But a shift began when a group of producers came together with a goal to do more than just survive the market — they wanted to grow exceptional coffee and earn better prices for it.

The key change? The formation of the Grupo Asociativo Productores del Nuevo Milenio, or New Millennium Producers Association, which brought technical training, better processing, and market guidance to over 40 smallholder farmers. Their focus? Producing high-scoring washed coffee from high-altitude lots.

What Sparked the Quality Improvement in Montserrat?

For years, farmers in Montserrat treated coffee as a basic cash crop. But starting a few years ago, a new farmers’ group — the Nuevo Milenio Association — began pushing for higher quality. With support from both local initiative and international development programs, they aimed to move beyond commodity-grade production and into specialty coffee.

How Did USAID and US Importers Help?

In 2005, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Colombia Specialty Coffee Program. This initiative connected the Nuevo Milenio co-op with American specialty coffee importers. These partners didn’t just buy beans — they sent experts to Montserrat to work directly with farmers. They provided hands-on training in better growing techniques and introduced cupping sessions to help producers understand and improve coffee quality. The program also advised on how to position and market their coffee for specialty markets.

What’s the Current Output of the Nuevo Milenio Co-op?

Today, the Nuevo Milenio Association includes 42 members. Together, they produce roughly three shipping containers per year — approximately 825 bags of green coffee. The group continues to recruit more local farmers to expand both volume and quality potential. Thanks to support from USAID and their trading partners, they’ve also built a local cupping lab where farmers learn to evaluate their own coffee, identifying strengths and areas for improvement directly from the cup.

Why Washed Process Coffee Matters

Most of the coffee from Montserrat is processed using the washed (or wet) method — a traditional technique where coffee cherries are pulped, fermented to remove mucilage, thoroughly washed, and then dried. This method tends to highlight the bean’s inherent aromas, resulting in a cleaner, brighter cup with pronounced acidity and a lighter body. The washed process is especially effective at showcasing delicate fruit and floral notes, and it’s a cornerstone of high-scoring specialty lots from Colombia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Montserrat located in Colombia?

Montserrat is located in the southwest region of Huila, a major coffee-growing department in Colombia known for high altitudes and quality specialty production.

What is the Nuevo Milenio coffee association?

The Grupo Asociativo Productores del Nuevo Milenio is a cooperative of 42 smallholder coffee farmers in Montserrat who joined together to improve coffee quality, access better markets, and earn higher prices for their washed coffee.

How did USAID help Colombian coffee farmers?

USAID’s Colombia Specialty Coffee Program, started in 2005, connected local farmers with US importers and sent specialists to provide training in farming techniques, cupping, and marketing strategies tailored to specialty coffee markets.

How much coffee does the Nuevo Milenio co-op produce annually?

The co-op produces around three shipping containers of coffee per year, which equals approximately 825 bags of green coffee beans.

What is washed coffee and why does it matter?

Washed coffee is processed by removing the coffee cherry’s skin and pulp, fermenting to remove the mucilage, and washing the beans before drying. This method often results in a clean, bright, and acidic cup that highlights the bean’s natural flavors — a key characteristic of high-quality specialty coffee.

Recommended FrontStreet Washed Coffee Beans

For fans of clean, bright Colombian coffees like those from Montserrat’s Nuevo Milenio co-op, try FrontStreet Coffee’s washed Yirgacheffe lot from the Gedeb cooperative — known for its jasmine notes and vibrant citrus acidity. Also consider their Kenya Little Tomato, a double-washed Kenyan coffee bursting with sweet-tart complexity and juicy red fruit. For a classic washed profile with refined balance, their Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 offers refined notes of hazelnut and cocoa. All are expertly processed and ideal for exploring what washed coffee can achieve. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.