Peru Coffee
The three prominent coffee growing areas, located in the eastern slopes of the Andes, are Chanchamayo, the Amazonas and San Martin regions, and the southern highlands. St Ignacio, close to the Ecuadorian border, is the centralized area of coffee plantations in northern Peru. Arabica is the dominant coffee crop, 70% of which is Typica, 20% is caturra, and the remainder being of other types. About 75% of the coffee growing area lies at an elevation range of 1,000–1,800 metres (3,300–5,900 ft), and planting done in the shaded areas is to the extent of 2,000 plants per ha. Farming is done largely by small farmers, and coffee is handpicked. Organic coffee is grown on 90,000 hectares (220,000 acres).
Urubamba coffee is grown in the southern part of the country near Machu Pichu, and Chanchamayo which is grown in the central region of the country on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains in the renowned high green mountain valley of Chanchamayo east of Lima at elevations of about 1,200 meters above sea level and higher.
Chanchamayo coffee exhibits a medium (occasionally light) body with a moderate to bright acidity and delightful flavors and aromatic qualities. The taste of a fine Chanchamayo is smooth and delicate, and very well-balanced with nutty and chocolaty tones and a sweet citrus taste in both the flavor and aroma as well as the pleasant finish/aftertaste. The taste is soft and sweet.
Peruvian Fair Trade and Organic certified coffee is widely available, offering mellow flavors at an aggressive price - sometimes they're the most affordable organic coffees available on the market. There's definitely a distinction among the more flavorful higher-priced specialty Peru coffees and the more common mild-flavored lower-priced coffees that you'll find at most roasters and stores, but don't mistake the price for a sign of bad coffee. Even the ubiquitous lower priced Peruvian coffee is worth adding to your rotation. In rare instances, these coffees are also used for the Swiss Water Decaf process, but availability is spotty.