Agricafé: Between vision and family.

Introduction

The Rodríguez family’s journey began with exporting coffee from local producers. But over time, they saw a bigger opportunity: to invest directly in farming, education, and producer empowerment. This led to the establishment of Fincas Los Rodríguez, a group of 12 farms designed not only to produce exceptional coffees, but to function as model farms: real-world training grounds for a new generation of Bolivian coffee producers.

Operating in Caranavi (La Paz) and Samaipata (Santa Cruz), Agricafé combines modern agronomic expertise with deep cultural respect for traditional land stewardship. Their coffees, floral, complex, and beautifully structured, are the product of high altitudes, diverse microclimates, and a long-term commitment to quality at every stage of production.

Through a blend of ambition and humility, Agricafé is not only elevating Bolivian coffee on the world stage: they are helping producers reclaim a sustainable future in coffee, built on dignity, education, and shared success. At Apex Coffee Imports, we’re proud to support and represent their work across Canada.

How it started

Our collaboration with Agricafé began in 2022, but the roots of the relationship go back even further. Julie, our sourcing manager, first met Daniela Rodríguez while working as a green buyer for another company. Their connection, built on mutual respect, shared values, and an obsession with quality, became the foundation for what would become one of Apex Coffee Imports’ most meaningful partnerships.

When Julie joined Apex, she brought this relationship with her. Thanks to that continuity, we were able to start importing Bolivian coffees from Agricafé right away. It was an easy decision. Agricafé’s approach to farming, education, and transparency perfectly aligns with our values at Apex: investing in long-term partnerships, advocating for producer-led change, and sourcing coffees that tell deeper stories. Today, our relationship continues to grow, anchored in open communication, aligned goals, and a shared belief in the future of Bolivian specialty coffee.

Their approach and philosophy

Agricafé’s philosophy is both bold and deeply grounded. They believe that for Bolivian coffee to thrive, it needs more than recognition: it needs regeneration. That means rebuilding degraded soils, reinvesting in farming infrastructure, and most importantly, equipping producers with the knowledge and confidence to succeed long-term. Central to their approach is the Sol de la Mañana program, launched in 2014 with just 15 producers. The program offers hands-on training in everything from seedling selection and pruning to selective picking and post-harvest processing. More than technical skills, it provides a system of support: a network where producers can share results, troubleshoot together, and learn from one another in a truly collaborative environment.

The Rodríguez family has also made significant investments in their own farms, Fincas Los Rodríguez, as living laboratories for sustainable production. These farms serve as both a reliable source of high-quality coffee and as demonstration sites for what’s possible when modern agronomy meets traditional wisdom. Their philosophy is unapologetically producer-first. They understand that economic viability is inseparable from quality and sustainability, and they are transparent about the challenges and trade-offs involved in making it all work. With input from international consultants, on-site agronomists, and the lived experiences of producers themselves, Agricafé has created one of the most robust, impactful models of specialty coffee development in Latin America.

At Apex, we admire not only their results, but the values that drive them. Agricafé doesn’t just export coffee; they cultivate resilience, pride, and opportunity in the communities they serve.

The producers they represent

Agricafé represents a growing network of over 200 smallholder producers, most of whom are located in the highland regions of Caranavi, where coffee cultivation is as much a cultural legacy as it is a livelihood. Many of these producers are descendants of the Aymara, Bolivia’s largest Indigenous group, who have cultivated the land with organic methods long before certifications were coined.

Through the Sol de la Mañana program, Agricafé supports these producers with structured agronomic training, year-round mentorship, and access to centralized processing infrastructure. The program’s goal is clear: to equip producers with the skills and tools to grow 30 bags of coffee per hectare, a critical threshold for financial sustainability in Bolivia’s challenging terrain. The impact is tangible. Silverio Nina, a former road worker turned full-time coffee farmer, now cultivates five hectares of Caturra, Catuaí, and Java, balancing yield, quality, and manageability. His involvement in Sol de la Mañana has elevated his farm’s productivity and cup profile dramatically.

In Copacabana, Carmelita Aduviri, a mother of eight and veteran farmer, tends to her multi-level farm at 1,400-1,550 masl. With support from Agricafé, she’s built a thriving coffee nursery, adopted improved pruning and fertilization methods, and developed a long-term vision for her family’s future in coffee. Her success reflects not just personal resilience, but the structural support she’s received.

Agricafé’s approach ensures that these producers are not anonymous suppliers: they are leaders in their communities and protagonists in the story of Bolivian coffee. Their work is celebrated, their voices are heard, and their coffees are honored with full traceability and consistent quality recognition.

For Apex, partnering with Agricafé means investing in people like Silverio and Carmelita. It means standing behind a supply chain where relationships, not just volumes, shape every decision.