11/03/2026
Our first Peru Week dispatch comes from cafe manager , who had this to say about her travels:
“Getting to Querocoto, the town where the Rutas del Inca cooperative is housed, is a commitment: a flight to Lima, then to Chiclayo, then close to a 6 hour drive. Luckily, we broke up the trip with a visit to Red Fox Merchants’ lab in Miraflores. Austin and Jeff have worked with Carina at Red Fox (who helped us source our recent Mexican coffees), and she was a blast. We tasted coffees from throughout Peru and grabbed lunch too. A true treat.
Austin and I lucked out with a great group. Emma and Dani from Sustainable Harvest were wonderful guides, and we were joined by a couple of other roasters from across the country. Swapping stories with people who have been in the business for decades, with very different business models, was eye-opening and inspiring. It also made me grateful for what we’ve been building at Tinker.
The people of the Rutas del Inca cooperative were the heart of this trip, and time with them was the highlight. Their hospitality was unmatched. Every single person greeted us with a firm handshake or a hug and dos besos. There was immense pride in what they’ve built and how they’ve grown, and for good reason. The business has grown year over year, they launched the Coya Coffee initiative (which gives women farmers the opportunity to lead and has produced some of their best coffees, including one of my favorites from our cupping), and they bought a roaster so they can roast their own coffee.
I kept thinking ‘what a beautiful life these people have,’ even without all the amenities we have here. Sure, the power could go out at any moment with no idea when it would return (it did, mid-cupping, and we finished by flashlight), the service is spotty, and hot water for a shower is a maybe. But everything was made with love and intention, rarely was there a phone in sight, and it felt like everyone knew everyone. I left proud that we’ve supported these people in what they do (and do really well) by buying their coffee over the years, and even more in awe after seeing everything the cooperative does to get the coffee to us here in Indiana.”
