Raised Bed Project in Oaxaca

In partnership with Caravela, Coava has embarked on a four-year initiative aimed at improving coffee quality and economic sustainability for smallholder farmers in Mexico, specifically in Southern Oaxaca. As the project enters its third year, Caravela has also launched its own dry mill to enhance processing capabilities and, in turn, improve quality during milling.

The project focuses on providing raised drying beds to 16 smallholder families, with each family receiving three beds (9m² total). These beds are designed to improve air circulation and ensure more consistent drying, which helps prevent defects and enhances overall coffee quality. By enabling farmers to produce higher cupping scores, these raised beds can lead to better market prices and improved livelihoods.

Key aspects of the project include:

• Increased Drying Efficiency: The raised beds will facilitate the drying of approximately 150 kg of parchment coffee every 8-10 days, aligning with the three harvest periods typical for smallholder producers.
• Longevity and Consistency: Each bed has an estimated lifespan of four years, focusing on producing consistently dried parchment and enhancing cup quality over multiple harvests.
• Research and Development: The setup allows farmers to experiment with post-harvest processes with reduced risk, encouraging innovation.

The project has involved installation labor, maintenance of drying infrastructure, adherence to PECA team practices, and data collection for ongoing assessments related to carbon footprint and sustainability.

Coava has provided financial support and is hoping to engage and educate customers, while Caravela has handled project design, execution, and farmer training, ensuring the initiative’s success and alignment with market commitments. This collaborative effort aims to elevate coffee quality while supporting the economic stability of the producers involved.

As we move through the second harvest of this cycle, the impact is clear:

• Coffees are cupping higher with more consistency across harvests
• By enabling farmers to produce higher cupping scores, these raised beds can lead to better market prices and improved livelihoods.

• Farmers can experiment with post-harvest processes with reduced risk, encouraging innovation.


This isn’t a short-term initiative. It’s a step toward meaningful, long-term change — driven by collaboration, transparency, and respect for the craft.

The coffees from this region are tasting better than ever. And soon, four returning favorites will be back—more expressive, consistent, and delicious with each harvest. We will also be sharing a very exclusive box set celebrating these incredible coffees.

Stay tuned. You won’t want to miss this drop.