Origin Coffee Lab: Building Value at Origin.

Introduction

Origin Coffee Lab (OCL) is a coffee exporter based in Jaén, located in the Cajamarca region of northern Peru. Founded by José Rivera in 2016, OCL was established with a clear mission: to ensure fair pricing for coffee producers while supporting their long-term profitability and success. For many years, the local market focused on paying low prices, prioritizing short-term profits over quality. From the start, OCL has been committed to sustainable pricing that reflects the true value of small producers’ coffee.

How It Started

OCL meticulously tastes each parchment delivery immediately upon its arrival at one of their collection points. A quality-based premium is then awarded, recognizing the unique characteristics of each delivery. They provide producers with the full payment, paying progressively higher premiums above local prices to farmers as quality increases harvest after harvest.

At the heart of OCL is also a commitment to traceability. They achieve this by dividing coffee-producing areas into smaller groups called comites and keeping lots from each micro-regions separated as well as the single farm microlots.

Their Approach and Philosophy

OCL's approach is rooted in fostering long-term relationships with producers. Their work focuses on improving the farmers’ standards of living, helping them plan for the future, and enabling reinvestment in their businesses. To drive meaningful change, OCL has organized 220 growers into comités through a producer-led model. This structure addresses four key areas: Training, Financial Access, Market Access, and Data Sharing.

The committees empower producers by providing them with the tools to tackle the challenges they face on their farms and within their communities. For instance, OCL conducts agronomy workshops on best agricultural practices, as well as financial and business training, to help producers adopt more sustainable production methods.In José's words, "Understanding the exact cost of coffee production is essential for all coffee producers. Only by knowing this can they determine a fair profit margin and set a competitive price for roasters. This allows roasters to purchase quality coffee and attract loyal customers. Some may even choose to buy the same coffee year after year. We've faced one challenge after another, but we've successfully convinced producers to shift their mindset."

The Producers They Represent

Origin Coffee Lab works with a wide network of producers across northern Peru, each with distinct backgrounds, farm structures, and approaches to coffee cultivation. This includes producers like Merci Judit Fernandez, a young farmer cultivating Bourbon on her farm La Pomarrosa while balancing hands-on work and agricultural studies, as well as Yonal Fernández and his wife Imelda Villalobos, who manage Finca El Barejón with a focus on careful processing and future expansion. The network also includes second-generation producers like Mavila Peralta, who participates in OCL’s mentoring program, and established families such as the Alarcon siblings, who collectively manage La Palestina and specialize in different aspects of production. Other producers, including Fredeslinda Calle, Einer Bazén Saldivar, Maximiliano Garcia and his wife Esperanza, and Percy Huaman Pintado, reflect a shared commitment to quality, continuous learning, and long-term investment in their farms. Across these partnerships, OCL supports a diverse and evolving community of producers dedicated to improving quality, experimenting with varieties and processing, and building sustainable livelihoods through coffee.