Bolivia Coffee Flavor Profile & CoE Champion Bean

If you’ve ever wondered why some Bolivian coffees smell like a garden in bloom yet taste clean and sweet, the answer lies high in the Andes. This article breaks down the unique sensory profile of Bolivia’s 2009 Cup of Excellence (CoE) winning coffee—grown at extreme altitude with careful processing—and explains what makes it stand out, including those persistent vanilla and peach notes.

The 2009 CoE No.1 coffee from Bolivia’s Agrotakesi SA estate offers a clean, delicate cup with pronounced floral aromas, especially varied notes of perfume-like flowers, alongside a long-lasting vanilla and sweet peach character. Grown at 2100m in Yungas of La Paz, this Typica varietal is produced in limited quantities with meticulous harvest selection.

What Makes Bolivian High-Altitude Coffee Different?

Bolivia’s best coffee farms sit at elevations as high as 2100 metres above sea level. In regions like Yungas of La Paz, the year-round cool climate slows down coffee cherry development. This extended growth period results in denser beans with more complex aromatic compounds. The slow maturation allows for greater retention of delicate floral notes and contributes to a cleaner, more refined cup profile.

The 2009 CoE Champion: Agrotakesi SA Estate

The 2009 Cup of Excellence winning lot came from Agrotakesi SA, a farm operated by Mauricio Ramiro Diez de Medina. Though the overall Agrotakesi farming area spans 2,500 hectares, only 200 hectares are dedicated to coffee cultivation—with just 13 of those planted with the Typica variety. That small plot yields a mere 120 bags per year, making it a model of low-volume, high-care production. The farm sits at 2100m altitude in Yanacahi, part of the Yungas region near La Paz.

Coffee Details & Cup Profile

This champion coffee is a Typica varietal grown at 2100m in the Yungas of La Paz, within the administrative area of Yanacahi. The farm, Agrotakesi SA, is led by producer Mauricio Ramiro Diez de Medina. It ranked No.1 in the 2009 CoE competition. Key details include:

• Country: Bolivia
• Region: Yungas of La Paz
• Town: Yanacahi
• Farm: Agrotakesi SA
• Producer: Mauricio Ramiro Diez de Medina
• Rank: No.1 (2009 CoE Champion)
• Farm Size: 2,500 hectares (only 200ha cultivated for coffee)
• Altitude: 2100 metres
• Varietal: Typica (just 13 hectares planted)
• Annual Production: 120 bags

Cupping notes from the estate and CoE reports highlight a cup that is exceptionally clean and delicate, with a diverse range of floral aromas. The fragrance carries multiple flower scents, while the flavour delivers a lasting impression of vanilla and sweet stone fruit—especially peach. The overall impression is one of elegance and fine balance.

About the Takesi Typica Cultivation

The Typica variety is grown on just 13 hectares of the Takesi, part of the broader Agrotakesi SA property. Despite the farm’s capacity, the Typica plot is tiny and produces minimally—only 120 bags per year. This isn’t conventional farming, but a respectful, low-impact approach to agriculture. The name Takesi comes from the local indigenous community and the nearby river that flows from the mountains. Since its CoE victory in 2009, Takesi has earned well-deserved recognition on the global specialty coffee stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Bolivia’s high-altitude coffee unique?

Bolivia’s high-altitude coffee, such as that grown at 2100m in Yungas of La Paz, develops slowly due to cool temperatures year-round. This slow cherry maturation leads to denser beans with more complex and delicate flavours, often featuring pronounced floral notes and a clean, refined cup profile.

What was the 2009 CoE No.1 coffee and where is it from?

The 2009 Cup of Excellence No.1 coffee came from Agrotakesi SA in Yanacahi, Bolivia. It is a Typica varietal grown at 2100m altitude, produced in limited quantities (120 bags per year), and known for its clean, floral, and sweetly aromatic profile with vanilla and peach notes.

How much Typica coffee does the Takesi produce?

Out of Agrotakesi SA’s 2,500-hectare property, only 200 hectares are used for coffee, and just 13 of those are planted with Typica. This small Typica plot yields only 120 bags annually, reflecting an intentional, low-output farming model.

What flavours are most prominent in the 2009 Bolivia CoE winner?

Cupping reports indicate the 2009 CoE-winning Bolivian coffee has a clean and delicate cup with diverse floral aromas and a long-lasting sweetness featuring vanilla and peach. These qualities make it notably elegant and refined.

Why is the Takesi Typica production so limited?

The limited production of Typica at Takesi (just 120 bags per year from 13 hectares) is due to the farm’s focus on quality over quantity. The varietal is planted on a small area and harvested with care to ensure consistency and high cup quality, aligning with specialty coffee values.

Where is the Agrotakesi SA estate located?

Agrotakesi SA is located in Yanacahi, within the Yungas region of La Paz, Bolivia. The estate spans 2,500 hectares, with 200 hectares used for coffee growing, including the 13 hectares dedicated to the Typica variety.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans with Similar Floral Notes

For drinkers who love the floral and delicate sweetness of Bolivia’s CoE winner, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui—it offers vibrant jasmine and bergamot tones with a juicy body. Also consider FrontStreet’s Panama Huacai, which brings floral lavender and stone fruit brightness. Both showcase the kind of refined, aromatic complexity you’d expect from high-grown, carefully processed single origins. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.