El Oromazo: The Coffee That Was Born From a Protest Against a Gold Mine
Share
El Oromazo: The Coffee That Was Born From a Protest Against a Gold Mine
In 2015, coffee producers in Casabianca, Tolima blocked a road to stop industrial gold mining in their municipality. That act of collective resistance became the founding story of CDNT — and El Oromazo, named after the mine they stopped, is their most celebrated lot.
At a Glance
The Origin Story: A Gold Mine, A Protest, A Collective
In 2015, a mining company sought permits to begin industrial gold extraction in El Oromazo — a municipality close to Casabianca in Northern Tolima. Foreseeing environmental destruction and devastating effects on their farming communities, a group of coffee producers met and went on strike, blocking the road and making clear that industrial mining was not welcome in their land.
It was at this meeting that the seeds were sown for what would become CDNT — Caficultores Diferenciado del Norte del Tolima — and LaREB, the export collective. Herbert Peñaloza, a co-founder and long-term partner of La Cabra Copenhagen, was instrumental in bringing the group together. The lot they named El Oromazo — after the municipality they defended — became the flagship product of their collective identity.
CDNT: Differentiated Coffee Growers of Northern Tolima
CDNT stands for Caficultores Diferenciado del Norte del Tolima — the Association of Differentiated Coffee Growers of Northern Tolima. "Differentiated" is deliberate: this collective explicitly positions itself apart from commodity coffee production, investing in quality, traceability, and specialty market access. Key producer-members include Herbert Peñaloza, Eduardo and Yesid Flores, Leonela Vergara, and Albeiro Arbelaez — smallholders who have worked with La Cabra multiple times over the years.
Casabianca is a small rural community in northern Tolima, historically underserved by central authorities and specialty coffee buyers despite strong quality potential. CDNT and LaREB together address this gap: LaREB (La Real Expedición Botánica) is the export arm, founded with an explicit mission to decolonise the coffee supply chain and return greater value to producing communities. La Cabra Copenhagen has been a long-term partner since the collective's founding.
Northern Tolima: An Emerging Specialty Origin
Tolima is Colombia's fourth-largest coffee-producing department, situated between the Eastern and Central Cordilleras of the Andes. While southern Tolima (home to El Vergel, Finca Las Flores, and other celebrated producers) has received more international attention, northern Tolima — including the Casabianca area — is increasingly recognized for high-altitude farms with strong cup quality potential. The region's position within the Coffee Cultural Landscape adds heritage context; its remoteness from major specialty trade routes is precisely why CDNT's collective model was necessary.
Who Carries El Oromazo?
"It was at this meeting that the seeds were sown for what would become CDNT and LaREB. A collective of coffee producers, each pulling in the same direction for the good of their communities." — La Cabra Copenhagen
Tasting Profile — El Oromazo
Brew Guide
Filter
1:15–1:16
93–96°C · Bright and clean · stone fruit in filter
Espresso
1:2.5–1:3
Citrus and caramel · versatile daily espresso
Rest
7–18 days
Washed — opens quickly post-roast
Shop El Oromazo at BrewFusion
The collective that protected its land from a gold mine. Every bag supports CDNT's Casabianca community. Shipped fresh worldwide.
Shop Now →