Notes from our importer, Cultivar Coffees - Peruvian specialty coffee:

In the high valleys of Puno, coffee is once again becoming an important crop after years in which many farms were abandoned due to disease pressure and the shift toward more profitable alternatives. In districts like Belén and the surrounding Sandia Valley, families who chose to maintain or recover their coffee plots are helping shape a quiet but steady return of quality production. The region’s altitude, cool microclimates and the predominance of Bourbon plants create coffees known for their clarity, citrus structure and discreet floral notes, a profile that has become characteristic of this corner of Peru.

Armando Soncco Toledo is part of that recovery. Born in 1975 in the district of Belén, he has been involved in coffee production since childhood and continues to manage a small farm with close attention to detail. His approach is practical rather than experimental: careful selection during harvest, controlled fermentation, clean washed processing and slow drying on raised beds. These steps allow him to maintain consistency from year to year, even as climatic conditions fluctuate.

Today Armando delivers coffee that reflects both the conditions of Sandia Valley and the

discipline with which he manages his farm. His lots tend to show a balanced combination of citrus brightness, light florality and a sweet, even finish. As Puno gains visibility again within the specialty sector, producers like Armando demonstrate how focused, small-scale management can produce coffees that stand out without relying on unusual processing or high-tech equipment.