Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca

What Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca does

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca (Caficauca) is a private agricultural cooperative founded on December 12, 1961, by 297 coffee farmers in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia, with initial capital of $54,000 COP. It serves more than 3,000 associated smallholder coffee farmers across 24 municipalities of the Cauca department, providing guaranteed coffee purchase through 36 municipal purchase agencies, agricultural inputs on credit through 8 Agrocaficauca stores, technical assistance, certifications, and social programs. The cooperative's core technology comprises manual and industrial coffee processing — collection of parchment coffee (café pergamino seco), hulling (trillado) at its Granja José María Obando facility, quality control, and export preparation — supported by a Bureau Veritas-certified Integrated Management System covering ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018.

The cooperative generates revenue through four primary streams: (1) buying and selling coffee parchment from member farmers and exporting processed green coffee through Expocafé S.A. and Almacafé S.A. at transaction margins, with a 1% deduction on member sales directed to social contributions and a solidarity fund; (2) agricultural input sales via the Agrocaficauca retail network (fertilizers, on-credit); (3) third-party hulling and milling (maquila) processing fees; and (4) specialty microlot commercialization at premium prices, including organic and Nespresso AAA-certified volumes. Affiliated associations include AMUCC (Asociación de Mujeres Caficultoras del Cauca) for women farmers and ACEC (Asociación de Caficultores Orgánicos del Cauca) for organic production, while the Kaphiyk sub-brand extends the cooperative into consumer roasted-coffee retail.

The cooperative is differentiated by its Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, 4C, FTU, Practices, and Nespresso AAA sustainability certifications, and by social programs funded through Mercy Corps, USAID, and the European Union — including Desarrollo Rural Inclusivo, Desarrollo Algo Nuevo, and Caficultora 2.0 — that address rural poverty, gender equity, and voluntary crop substitution. Operationally it survived a complete 1981 financial restructuring, built its export-grade processing infrastructure in 1988, and has since pursued continuous, program-driven expansion of its service portfolio while maintaining a member-ownership governance model under Colombia's Special Tax Regime (Régimen Tributario Especial).

Name

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca

Legal name

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca

Website

https://caficauca.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca (Caficauca) is a Colombian coffee cooperative serving 3,000+ smallholder farmers across 24 Cauca municipalities, purchasing parchment coffee through 36 municipal agencies, processing it through its own hulling plant, exporting via Expocafé and Almacafé, and providing agricultural inputs, certifications, and donor-funded social programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Coffee Cooperative & Agricultural Inputs

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coffee Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAC)

Keywords

• Coffee commercialization
• Specialty coffee export
• Agricultural input supply
• Coffee processing services
• Farmer cooperative services

Headquarters

HQ city

Popayán

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Coffee commercialization and export: The cooperative purchases coffee parchment from associated farmers through 36 purchase agencies, processes it through its hulling plant (trilladora), and exports through Expocafé S.A. or Almacafé S.A. Revenue comes from the margin on buying and selling coffee, with a 1% deduction on sales directed to members' social contributions (0.9% to social contributions, 0.1% to solidarity fund).
2. Agricultural input sales (Agrocaficauca): The cooperative operates 8 Agrocaficauca agricultural supply stores selling fertilizers and farm inputs on credit to associated farmers. Since 1987 the cooperative has sold fertilizers, and since 1996 cooperative returns have been delivered in fertilizers proportional to coffee sold.
3. Processing and milling services (maquila): The cooperative provides hulling (trillado) and milling services (maquila) to farmers and other organizations, generating processing fees.
4. Microlot specialty coffee sales: The cooperative identifies, processes, and commercializes specialty microlots of high-quality coffee, commanding premium prices for differentiated varieties and organic coffees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caficauca is a coffee farmer cooperative that purchases parchment coffee from 3,000+ associated smallholder farmers across 24 municipalities in Cauca, Colombia, through 36 municipal purchase agencies. It processes the coffee at its own hulling plant (trilladora), exports through Expocafé S.A. and Almacafé S.A., sells agricultural inputs (fertilizers) on credit through 8 Agrocaficauca stores, runs the Kaphiyk roasted coffee brand, and provides hulling/milling (maquila) services to third parties.

Product overview

Caficauca is a cooperative offering a portfolio of coffee products and services. Core products include green coffee (café pergamino seco), microlots, coffee processing (trilladora), export services, and milling (maquilas). The subsidiary Agrocaficauca provides agricultural inputs and credit services through 8 stores. The Kaphiyk brand represents their roasted and ground coffee for retail. Social programs include Development Rural Inclusivo (DRI), Caficultora 2.0, and the new Desarrollo Algo Nuevo program supporting 4,100 participants in 12 municipalities. The cooperative also supports affiliated associations AMUCC (women coffee growers) and ACEC (organic coffee growers).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaphiyk: A brand of roasted and ground coffee (café tostado y molido) marketed by Caficauca. The brand participated in coffee stands during Semana Santa in Popayán at the Casa de la Cultura and Hotel Dann Monasterio.

Products and services

• Café Pergamino Seco (Parchment Coffee) Dried parchment coffee purchased from 3,000+ associated farmers across 36 purchase points in 24 municipalities of Cauca. Sold to international buyers via Expocafé and Almacafé.
• Kaphiyk Roasted and Ground Coffee Premium roasted and ground coffee brand sold at retail stands and events (e.g., Semana Santa at Casa de la Cultura and Hotel Dann Monasterio in Popayán).
• Microlotes (Specialty Microlots) Specialty coffee microlots identified, processed, and commercialized to premium coffee buyers worldwide, including organic varieties.
• Coffee Hulling (Trilladora) Industrial coffee hulling service operated by Caficauca at Granja José María Obando, processing parchment coffee into green beans for export.
• Maquilas (Milling and Processing Services) Coffee milling and processing services offered to third parties, generating processing fees using the cooperative's infrastructure.
• Agrocaficauca Agricultural Supply Stores Network of 8 agricultural supply stores selling fertilizers and farm inputs on credit to associated farmers across Popayán, Inzá, El Bordo, and other locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Income improvement: from 30,000–50,000 COP per arroba of coca every 3 months, to 100,000 COP per arroba of coffee — a 2–3x improvement for substitution program participants.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Mercy CorpsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercy Corps is a key strategic partner supporting Caficauca's social programs. Through the alliance, programs like 'Desarrollo Rural Inclusivo' (DRI) Phase I and II, 'Desarrollo Algo Nuevo' (4,100 beneficiaries, 2 years), and women's economic autonomy programs have been implemented. Mercy Corps provides funding, technical expertise, and program management support for rural economic development and voluntary crop substitution initiatives.
• Expocafé S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpocafé S.A. is a strategic ally of AMUCC (the women coffee farmers association linked to Caficauca) and serves as an export channel for the cooperative's coffee, handling international commercialization.
• TecnicafesupportingTechnology or IntegrationTecnicafe is a strategic ally of AMUCC, providing technical expertise in coffee production, processing, and quality improvement for the women coffee farmers association.
• SupracafesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupracafe is a strategic ally of AMUCC, supporting the commercialization of specialty coffee produced by women coffee farmers of Cauca.
• ICETEXsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaficauca has an education fund partnership with ICETEX (Colombian Institute for Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad), enabling associated farmers' children and grandchildren to access educational loans with cooperative support.
• Fundación Universitaria de PopayánsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2017, Caficauca has a partnership with the Fundación Universitaria de Popayán offering all academic programs with a 20% discount on tuition fees for children and grandchildren of associated farmers, plus educational assistance.
• Almacafé S.A.supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlmacafé S.A. is a national coffee warehouse and logistics company that handles storage and export logistics for the cooperative's processed green coffee alongside Expocafé S.A.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Rainforest Alliance: Provides the sustainability certification Caficauca holds for export access; comparable as an ecosystem standards-setter in sustainable coffee.
• Fairtrade International (FLO-CERT): Issues the Fairtrade certification Caficauca holds; comparable as an ecosystem enabler that defines and audits the premium-pricing standards the cooperative relies on for export differentiation.

Broad incumbents

• Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC): Colombia's national coffee growers federation, the umbrella institution for coffee cooperatives including Caficauca. FNC sets policy, manages the Juan Valdez brand, and provides the institutional infrastructure (including Almacafé) that Caficauca relies on.
• Procafecol (Juan Valdez Café): Operates the Colombian coffee flagship brand Juan Valdez with retail cafés globally. Comparable to Caficauca's Kaphiyk ambition but at vastly larger scale, and connects to the same Federación smallholder ecosystem.
• Nespresso (AAA Sustainable Quality Program): A certified buyer of Caficauca's AAA-grade coffee; comparable as a global premium coffee program engaging cooperatives on quality and sustainability sourcing.
• Supracafe: Spanish specialty coffee company that partners with AMUCC (Caficauca's women's association) for green coffee sourcing; comparable as a buyer and value-chain participant in the specialty Colombian coffee market.

Direct peers

• Cooperativa de Caficultores de Antioquia: A regional Colombian coffee cooperative operating purchase points, processing, and agricultural-input retail for thousands of smallholder members in Antioquia — the closest direct analogue to Caficauca's integrated cooperative model.
• Coocafé (Cooperativa de Caficultores de Sevilla): Large Colombian coffee cooperative with integrated processing, microlot specialty programs, and export channels serving smallholder farmers — comparable operating model and revenue mix to Caficauca.
• Expocafé S.A. Colombian coffee exporter and direct buyer that already partners with Caficauca for international shipments; comparable as a coffee commercialization and export channel serving Colombian cooperatives.
• Almacafé S.A. FNC-owned coffee warehousing and logistics platform that handles storage and export logistics for Caficauca; comparable as a coffee supply-chain intermediary in the Colombian ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Caficauca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caficauca

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cooperativa de Caficultores del Cauca