Coffee production in Bolivia is mainly concentrated in the rural areas of Yungas and Caranavi province, located northeast of La Paz. Other growing regions include Santa Cruz, Beni, Cochabamba, Tarija and Pando. Bolivia has all the makings of a high-quality coffee producer, such as altitude, fertile soil, and a consistent rainy season.
Caranavi is considered the coffee capital of Bolivia and it is here that most of the coffee is produced. It is located in the Yungas region of eastern Bolivia, in the transition zone where the Andes turn into eastern forests.
Cultivation here is solely of Arabica coffee and focuses mainly on Catuai varieties, but small production of Gesha can also be found. The most commonly used and traditional processing method is washed, in which the coffee fruit is stripped and then dried on African beds due to the high altitude and low temperatures. Recently, however, some producers are beginning to work on some experimental fermentations.
