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Lavazza Foundation Project in Cuba

The Lavazza Foundation aims to create a long-term partnership to support Cuban coffee development, as a local excellence, whilst taking care of the environment. By working closely with 170 farmers in the areas of Santiago and Granma, the Lavazza Foundation is committed to improving the quality of Cuban coffee as well as ensuring the sustainable development of these coffee growing communities.
Discover our commitment.

Forest preservation 
Agricultural practices improvement
Coffee quality improvement
Women and youth empowerment
Equity chain and short supply chain
National Reserve forest coffee

La Reserva de ¡Tierra! Cuba is a unique blend that grows as an integral part of the forest, in protected Natural Reserves characterized by their ban to cut down tall trees. The polyculture techniques used in this area promote biodiversity, guarantee the maintenance of the structural complexity of this territory, from an environmental point of view, provide a stable source of sustenance and income for locals and guarantee the ideal shade system for coffee plants. 

Farm Partner

Agricultural practices improvement

By fostering good agricultural practices, Lavazza Foundation supports coffee farmers in increasing their coffee production and fighting climate change. Moreover, we train them to cultivate a more homogeneous and higher quality crop and select the best cherries during the picking process, done entirely by hand. Thanks to the sensors that have been installed in the coffee plantations, farmers can monitor environmental data allowing them to better manage their plantations and identify the best time to harvest.

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Variety

ARABICA

Harvest begin

01/08/2022

Harvest end

31/12/2022

Yield/ha

942,15 Kg/ha

Quantity of cherries harvested

1.298.896,26 Kg

Variety

ROBUSTA

Harvest begin

01/08/2022

Harvest end

31/01/2023

Yield/ha

703,69 Kg/ha

Quantity of cherriest harvested

300.144,58 Kg

Coffee quality improvement

In order to improve the quality of the coffee and boost its economic appeal, Lavazza Foundation and Lavazza R&D experts have offered dedicated trainings and have provided the selected yeasts used in the controlled fermentation process implemented on a share of the Robusta harvest. This fermentation process aims to enhance flavour complexity, unlock exotic notes and make the final product sweeter and elegant. The fermentation process of La Reserva de ¡Tierra! Cuba follows a very strict approach which involves constant monitoring of time and temperature to guarantee the right flavour development.

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Variety/Process

ARABICA WASHED

Variety/Process

ROBUSTA WASHED

Variety/Process

ROBUSTA FERMENTED

Fermentation time

72 hours

The important role that women play

Selecting and sorting different types of coffee can improve their overall value and in-cup quality. This activity is carried out using coffee sieves (to separate bean sizes) and a sorting machine (to remove major defects). Lavazza Foundation has implemented a final manual sorting system, carried out and managed by an all-female team of 95 women. Thanks to this final step, is now possible to sort the coffee by quality and eliminate the defects that could not be mechanically identified.

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Variety/Process

ARABICA WASHED

Quantity coffee selected by Lavazza

75.300,60 Kg

Variety/Process

ROBUSTA WASHED

Quantity coffee selected by Lavazza

30.959,92 Kg

Variety/Process

ROBUSTA FERMENTED

Quantity coffee selected by Lavazza

5.640,00 Kg

Equity chain and short supply chain

The Lavazza Foundation is working with Cuban institutions to simplify the coffee supply chain by scaling down the number of intermediaries and place a greater focus on the roles that add real value to the product. We are also supporting the future introduction of a reward mechanism based on coffee quality, to improve the well-being of farmers and quality of the product. Our goal is to create a participatory social budget for coffee production which takes into account human index development parameters.

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Mantaining the quality from Cuba to Italy

The green coffee’s sea voyage takes 3-4 weeks during which time the temperature and humidity must be constantly monitored in order to preserve the product. At this stage coffee is quite sensitive and even a small oversight could bring about a poor in-cup result. This is why we have installed sensors in shipping containers that can track all these parameters and allow us to guarantee the best product conservation.

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Ship name

NEOKASTRO

Departure

13/07/2023

Arrival

16/08/2023

Duration

35 days

Average Air Temperature

31.64° Celsius

Average Humidity

70.55 %

Ship name

ALEXIS

Departure

19/09/2023

Arrival

24/10/2023

Duration

36 days

Average Air Temperature

29.82° Celsius

Average Humidity

70.96 %

The art of roasting

Since 1895, Lavazza has created unique blends by perfectly combining body, aroma and taste. La Reserva de ¡Tierra! Cuba is a combination of washed Arabica with washed and fermented Robusta, that boost exotic flavors and notes in the cup.

The final result is a well-rounded and balanced espresso with a velvety body and a delicate sweetness that celebrates its Cuban heritage.​ Lavazza’s Slow Gentle Roasting method applies the appropriate roasting techniques, such as gentle drum roasting and air conveyed technology, to enhance the taste profile of coffee origins.

Each blend is roasted with strict setting parameters and different roasting profiles in order to release the best aroma compounds.

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Type of roast

DRUM ROAST

Plant

IT - Casa 1895

Roast date

07/10/2024

Coffee roasted

6.579,40 Kg

Discover the story of sustainability of your coffee
A story rich in detail and all to be discovered
through the data collected by the blockchain technology.
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Thanks to blockchain technology, you can trace the coffee journey and our sustainability commitment. 

Find the batch coffee number on your coffee pack or ask your barista

La Reserva de ¡Tierra! range
A story of sustainability behind every cup.
A story of sustanability behind every cup

Each blend from La Reserva de ¡Tierra! originates from coffee communities and territories involved in social responsibility projects, promoted and managed by the Lavazza Foundation.

DISCOVER COFFEE STORIES
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Discover how to brew the perfect espresso with La Reserva de ¡Tierra! blends and how to enhance your coffee experience.

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