High-Altitude Bolivian Coffee Estates and Regions

What makes Bolivian coffee stand out? For years, it’s been the country’s high-altitude growing conditions—especially in the Yungas region near La Paz—that produce coffee with remarkable clarity, delicate florals, and sweet profiles. If you've ever tasted a Bolivian coffee with complex jasmine or peach notes and wondered where it comes from, the answer lies in these remote, cool-climate farms.

Bolivia’s best coffees come from elevations around 2,100 metres in the Yungas of La Paz. The 2009 Cup of Excellence (CoE) champion, a Typica variety from Agrotakesi SA, scored 93.36 and sold for $35.05 per pound after intense international bidding. This lot came from just 13 hectares of meticulously farmed Typica at extreme altitude.

The Unique High-Altitude Advantage

Coffee grown at high altitudes like 2,100m in Bolivia develops more slowly due to lower temperatures. This slow maturation results in denser beans with concentrated flavours and pronounced floral aromatics. The best Bolivian lots, when processed carefully with uniform cherry ripeness, yield clean, refined cups with delicate notes of vanilla and peach. That’s why the 2009 CoE winner displayed such a rich and persistent aromatic complexity.

Agrotakesi SA and the Legendary Typica

The 2009 CoE champion lot was produced by Agrotakesi SA, owned by Mauricio Ramiro Diez de Medina. The farm spans 2,500 hectares, but only 200 hectares are dedicated to coffee—specifically the Typica variety. Out of that, only 13 hectares are currently producing, yielding just 120 bags annually. This isn’t large-scale farming—it’s a model of agricultural restraint focused on quality over quantity. The farm lies in the Yanacachi district of the Yungas, and the region itself is named after the indigenous Takesi people and the nearby mountain stream. Winning CoE in 2009 put Takesi on the global coffee map.

Cup Profile & Processing Details

This championship Typica was processed using traditional washed methods and mechanical drying. The cupping report from the 2009 CoE and FrontStreet’s roast record describe the following sensory profile:

• Dry fragrance: Diverse floral notes, vanilla sweetness, spice, honey
• International jury score: 93.36
• Roast level: Mid-point of first crack, 12-minute roast time
• Processing: Washed and mechanically dried
• Certification: Organic (Ceser & USDA)

Competition & Global Recognition

The lot was part of the 2009 Cup of Excellence competition in Bolivia. It consisted of 24 boxes totalling 825 kilograms. The winning bid came from a consortium including Maruyama Coffee (for Mikatajuku Group), Itoya Coffee, and Orsir Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). The auction price of $35.05 per pound reflects the extraordinary demand for rare, high-scoring Bolivian coffees. The cupping code was CAR-003.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bolivia’s best coffee grown?

The finest Bolivian coffee is grown in the Yungas region of La Paz, particularly around Yanacachi. This area features high altitudes around 2,100 metres, cool temperatures, and ideal conditions for slow cherry development and complex flavour formation.

What coffee variety won the 2009 Bolivia CoE?

The 2009 Cup of Excellence champion coffee from Bolivia was a Typica variety grown by Agrotakesi SA. It scored 93.36 and was celebrated for its floral, vanilla, and peachy characteristics, processed via washed and mechanical drying methods.

How much coffee does Agrotakesi SA produce?

Agrotakesi SA dedicates only 13 hectares of its 200-hectare coffee area to Typica cultivation, producing just 120 bags per year. The limited production reflects a focus on precision farming at high elevation rather than volume.

What processing method was used for the 2009 CoE winner?

The 2009 CoE-winning Bolivian Typica was processed using a washed method followed by mechanical drying. This approach, combined with careful harvesting of uniformly ripe cherries, contributed to the coffee’s clean and refined cup profile.

Who bought the 2009 Bolivia CoE champion lot?

The champion coffee lot was purchased by a group including Maruyama Coffee (for Mikatajuku Group), Itoya Coffee, and Orsir Coffee (also known as FrontStreet Coffee). The winning bid was $35.05 per pound at the 2009 CoE auction.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for High-Altitude Fans

If you love the delicate floral and stone fruit notes found in high-altitude Bolivian Typica, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazil Queen Manor (Yellow Bourbon) for its creamy sweetness and tropical depth, or their Kenya Little Tomato for bright acidity and bold berry tones. Both showcase how altitude and variety shape unique flavour profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.