May 2025: Podium Gold. Big Shoulders Coffee
Country: Peru
Varietals: Catimor, Caturra, Bourbon, Typica
Region: Cajamarca
Process: Washed
Producer: PeruNor
Elevation: 1,300 - 2,200 MASL
Tasting notes: Praline, cooked citrus, hints of chocolate
The Coffee:
PeruNor is an exporter that works with APROSEM Cafe and Cocoa, an association of around 235 contributing farmers. The region of Cajamarca is a semi-dry, semi-cold, tropical highland of Peru with very fertile soil at high Andean mountain elevations. All of these factors contribute to the potential of specialty coffee production in the area, which is growing.
Beyond coffee production, PERUNOR is dedicated to improving the quality of life for over 2,500 farming families by promoting environmentally friendly practices and fair compensation.
PERUNOR's coffee beans consistently achieve cup scores above 83 points according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) standards. Their team includes certified Q Graders who meticulously evaluate each batch to maintain quality
PeruNor has provided Big Shoulders with a coffee that truly shines, giving notes of praline, cooked citrus, and hints of chocolate with a mellow sweetness.
The Roaster:
Tim and Patricia Coonan founded Big Shoulders Coffee in 2012 with two things in mind: Good Coffee should be accessible to everyone and hospitality would be woven into everything they did. Both were realized with the same level of detail and care taken from their experiences of working in Michelin starred restaurants.
Yes, they roast award winning coffee but what stands out is the level of care they have for guests, partners, and the entire Big Shoulders team.
Big Shoulders believes the most important part of success is the relationships that are formed on the journey. Everyone from producer, importer, roaster and baristas who bring you delicious coffee each day play an important part.
This commitment has made them a multi award winning coffee company-having been recognized by Golden Bean, and also honored to be the home of the 2025 US Coffee Roasting Champion, Diego Guartan.