CASCARA COLOMBIA - Argote

CUPPING NOTES Lemon, Black Tea, Honey

PROCESS Washed

VARIETY Castillo, Caturra, Catuaí

PRODUCER Juan Pablo Lasso Argote

REGION Colón Génova, Nariño

ALTITUDE 1950-2800m

CROP 2025

What is Cascara?

Cascara is the dried husk or skin of the coffee cherry, that what surrounds the coffee bean. Traditionally considered a byproduct of coffee processing, it has gained popularity as a flavorful, naturally caffeinated infusion.

In the washed process, the coffee cherries are first pulped to remove the beans, and the remaining fruit skins are then dried separately. Cascara from washed coffees often produces a cleaner, lighter and more tea-like infusion.

It contains less caffeine than coffee but offers natural antioxidants and a unique flavor profile. Cascara is also considered sustainable, as it makes use of a part of the coffee cherry that would otherwise go to waste, creating additional value for coffee producers.

How to enjoy Cascara?

Cascara is most commonly brewed as a tea-like infusion, but its versatility goes far beyond that. Its naturally fruity and slightly sweet character makes it a great ingredient for a variety of drinks. It can be enjoyed hot like tea, cold brewed for a refreshing iced drink or used as a base for cascara lemonade, iced tea or sparkling cascara sodas. Whether served hot or cold, cascara offers a refreshing and distinctive way to experience the flavor of the coffee cherry.

THE FARMER BEHIND

Argote Specialty Coffee is a Colombian coffee project based in Génova in the Nariño region, a renowned area in southwest Colombia known for its high altitude coffee and specialty quality. The initiative was founded in 2014 under Lasso & Hijos SAS when Juan Pablo Lasso Argote and his father Efraín Lasso set out to improve the quality and global positioning of coffee produced by smallholder farmers.

The core mission of Argote is to build direct, long term relationships between small producers and international roasters, ensuring farmers receive fair prices for their high quality harvests while strengthening their connection to the coffee value chain. A key focus of the project is maintaining full transparency and traceability throughout the process from farm to export so that both producers and buyers benefit.

Argote works with multiple independent farming families around Génova, cultivating high altitude Arabica between approximately 1950 and 2800 m above sea level. Farmers manage their own harvesting and processing, including both washed and natural methods, and take part in quality control and drying. By selling directly into specialty markets, they earn significantly higher returns than in traditional trading systems.

The collaboration goes beyond quality alone, fostering socio economic development in the community. Many farmers reinvest their premiums in improved infrastructure, such as expanded drying patios, cleaner washing stations, and regenerative farming practices. Long term members of the Argote project have also begun exploring new varieties and agronomic techniques to further differentiate their coffees and meet evolving specialty coffee standards.

Through this collaborative and artisanal approach, Argote has become a compelling example of how collective value creation, fair pricing, and exceptional quality can work together bringing the unique terroir and stories of a small coffee community in Nariño to the international specialty coffee scene.