Counter Culture Coffee - Retail El Buen Pastor

In 2007, Counter Culture embarked on a new, more transparent model of sourcing in northern Peru. We focused on coffee from five communities in the high-elevation areas of Ihuamaca, just outside of San Ignacio. Our relationships in this region are some of our longest-standing with producers anywhere in the world. Through many changes in this region since those early days, producers’ dedication to quality and environmental stewardship has remained steady. Sweet and approachable, look for balanced notes of toffee, vanilla and dried fruit. Pronunciation: VIE-yay del…

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

In their quest to consistently deliver top quality, the CENAPROC cooperative tastes through all of their individual members’ lots each season. The absolute best coffees are set aside for us, and for this subscriber-exclusive offering, we’ve combined a few of our favorites that exemplify the sweet, nuanced flavors that piqued our interest when we began working with the group in 2004. These three producers–Jorge Caceres, Luis Huayhua, and Luis’ wife, Zenovia–have been consistent microlot producers for at least a decade, and we look forward to tasting their work each year.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Alto Ihuamaca is one of the five coffee-producing communities which makes up Valle del Santuario, one of our most tenured single origin products. During our selection process for Valle del Santuario, we often taste coffees separated by specific communities or farms. This year, a small lot from five producers in Alto Ihuamaca caught our attention, evoking memories of the flavors that initially sparked our interest in this remote area way back in 2007.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

In the highlands of western Guatemala near the town of Concepción Huista, Juana Gaspar’s small farm produces exceptional coffee. As a member of the CODECH cooperative, Juana benefits from rigorous quality control systems that identify and incentivize excellent coffee quality. Juana’s coffee has regularly been our favorite single-farm lot from the group, exemplifying the outstanding quality achievable through thoughtful picking, processing, and rigorous quality control. Enjoy notes of citrus, plum, and golden raisin in this densely sweet coffee. HWAN-uh ES-co-bar…

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Our long-time partners, Marysabel Caballero and Moisés Herrera of Finca El Puente, have built a legacy of experimentation and innovation. Since we first met them in 2005, their relentless pursuit of coffee perfection continues to inspire us. Over the years, we’ve tasted countless lots from their farm, including rare varieties and unique processes. Again and again, we’ve noticed their honey-processed coffees stand out on the cupping table, consistently delivering more sweetness and depth when presented beside their washed counterparts.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Since 2015, we’ve purchased coffee from producers nestled deep in the mountains of Nariño, Colombia. The area has a history of heavy guerrilla activity that, for decades, isolated the community and discouraged collective business efforts. Against all odds, the producers of K’uychi have worked together to improve their farms, conserve their community’s natural resources, and bring us this wonderful coffee. We taste notes of green grape, clementine, and milk chocolate. Pronunciation…

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Amid the dense, tropical Yungas rainforest and poised between two rivers, Finca Virgen de Copacabana perseveres through a notoriously difficult place to produce and export high-quality coffee. Neighboring the ecological preserve and park at Alto Beni, this coffee farm coexists with some of Bolivia’s most lush and remote biosphere. For more than 20 years owner Maria Nidia continues to pursue quality and sustainability by investing in new coffee varieties and processing equipment as well as inspiring the next generation of young coffee professionals.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Pablo Cordoba is an exceptional farmer from Nariño, Colombia, who produces some of the best Colombian coffee we source each year. He has become a key partner in our Santafé sourcing, inspiring his neighbors to improve quality and coordinating the delivery of the community's coffee to our export partner, Toldopamba. These efforts have connected many in Santafé with the quality premiums Toldopamba offers for exceptional coffee. This year, Cordoba’s coffee tastes like a complex dark chocolate, layered with deep fruit tones akin to dried fig and black cherry. Pronunciation: PAH-blo…

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Coffees from the Jaén province’s southwestern districts have historically been bulked into large commodity blends, destined for anonymity. With crucial support from Origin Coffee Lab, we started digging deeper into these areas in 2019. What we found were small coffee-producing communities in and around the remote district of Colasay, producing some of our favorite coffees in Peru. A blend of this year’s selections from those farms, La Viuda bursts with juicy notes of black cherry and white grape. Pronunciation: la…

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Fundochamba is a small mountain community just outside of Quilanga in Ecuador’s Loja province. We purchase from a group of 14 growers in this area who have worked together to steadily improve quality and connect with the specialty market. This year, the group dedicated a small portion of their volume to a prolonged fermentation experiment. After pulping, this coffee was fermented in a cool, low-oxygen environment for about 72 hours. The resulting cup offers intricate fruit complexity and sweetness. We taste dark-fruit notes of concord grape and black cherry, swimming in a sweet, syrupy body.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

In a small village deep within the Incahuasi Valley, Lucio Luque cultivates a vibrant coffee parcel, Nuevo Progresso. This section of his farm stands out for its exclusive planting of a unique variety that has redefined the region's potential for quality. Lucio's enthusiasm for this variety caught our attention, prompting us to collaborate with the cooperative and our supply chain partners to separate this coffee from the larger blend it was originally destined for. The outcome is a coffee that captivates with fruity notes of blood orange and bubble gum underpinned by delicate florals.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Hugo Ruiz’s small farm overlooks the highlands of western Guatemala near the town of Concepción Huista. Hugo is a part of the CODECH cooperative, an organization we’ve worked with closely since 2010. Each season, the cooperative tastes each farmer's delivery, setting aside the highest-scoring lots to be sold at a premium, incentivizing and rewarding quality. Hugo’s coffee is regularly one of the top-scoring coffees each season. After hundreds of cups tasted, the coop identified this coffee as one of the best of the harvest, and our sourcing team couldn’t agree more.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

The coffees we source from the Colasay region have quickly become some of our favorites in all of Peru. Yonal Fernandez is part of a small group of producers in Colasay whose coffee we began purchasing in late 2019. His coffee has been featured in Fast Forward and La Viuda, but this is the first time we’re showcasing it as a unique microlot. Together with his wife, Imelda, Yonal cultivates the unique Bourbon de Colasay variety–a regional mutation that performs equally well in the field and in the cup.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

This coffee represents the continued evolution of a partnership we’ve maintained for nearly 2 decades. Growers in the Orgánica cooperative have focused on achieving the highest quality in every aspect of their production, including planting higher-quality, harder-to-grow varieties. This lot features their Pink Bourbon and Gesha selections. While the cup may not present the overt florals often associated with these varieties’ Ethiopian lineage, it offers a compelling expression of Colombia’s evolving coffee culture. Expect sweet flavors of raspberry and honey, balanced by a tea-like body.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Celebrate the global journey behind every cup. This midweight long-sleeve tee is made from 100% combed cotton for everyday comfort and durability. The design features a small Counter Culture Coffee logo on the front, a world map highlighting the places where we source our coffee on the back, and an illustrated coffee branch pattern down the sleeve. A classic fit that’s easy to wear and built to last—made for those who love coffee and appreciate where it comes from.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Upgrade your coffee routine with our bulk bags, made for true coffee lovers. Each bag brews 48 to 160 cups of our signature blends, perfect for keeping your favorites on hand. Save and sip through the holiday season!

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Sometimes the heat of the moment calls for something cold. Cold Hearted was inspired by the hot southern days that make us crave iced coffee. The blend is bright and refreshing, reminiscent of sweet tea, with layers of cherry and cocoa nibs. No matter how you brew it, Cold Hearted delivers a crisp and invigorating cup.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

A coffee gift subscription delivered every month for three months. Select your coffee and the number of bags you want to send. Not sure what your giftee likes? You can always swap out which coffee is being sent!

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Enjoying fresh, delicious coffee should be a year-round affair. That's why Fast Forward is a curated blend of similar coffees from different harvest periods, ensuring you can savor the freshest flavors no matter the season. The ever-changing selection of organic coffees guarantees a delightful balance of nutty and sweet notes, wrapped in a creamy body that will leave you craving another cup.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Coffee beans come in all shapes and sizes. Gigantic is a blend of Pacamara—a variety of the Arabica coffee plant that produces exceptionally large beans. The combination results in a complex coffee with big big notes of fuji apple, nectarine, and caramel.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Two different 12 oz bags of seasonal, fresh-roasted coffee selected every four weeks by our Coffee Department and delivered directly to your favorite coffee lover for 12 months. Two bags total with each shipment. Your credit card will be billed per shipment. List price does not include Flat Rate Shipping for each shipment. Subscriptions begin the next business day after they are received. Please note: “Quantity” indicates the number of bags per shipment—in increments of two—and not duration.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Some things are classics for a reason. To celebrate 30 years, we’re introducing a mug that’s close to our hearts—Brett’s diner mug. This isn't just any mug—it's our founder's favorite. He believes a great coffee mug should be sturdy, timeless, and feel good in your hands. This is that mug. Holding a generous 11oz, this classic diner mug is designed to be your new go-to. Its thick, durable ceramic walls keep your coffee perfectly warm, while the comfortable handle makes every sip a simple pleasure. Stamped with our refreshed throwback logo, this mug is a warm nod to our three-decade journey.

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

Tucked away in the secluded eastern reaches of Nariño, the community of Santafé quietly cultivates exceptional coffee. Toldopamba, our partner in the region, supports local growers with technical assistance and quality control, enabling them to reach their full potential. We’ve focused our sourcing here since 2016, drawn by the community's strength and the outstanding quality of their coffee. The cup is big-bodied and syrupy, with layers of cocoa and dark cherry. Pronunciation…

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina

The Burera district in Rwanda is known for its rich volcanic soils that support abundant fruit and vegetable farming. Historically, coffee has not been grown here, but a new project is underway to change that. Farmers are planting coffee trees all across the district, creating an important source of income diversification. The early results are impressive, with excellent quality emerging from the region. We find black currant and a range of juicy tropical fruits in our cups. Pronunciation: boo-RARE-ra Images courtesy of M.O Studios and Ikawa…

by Counter Culture Coffee · North Carolina

🚚 Ships from North Carolina