Farmer: Echavarria family
Region: Antioquia, Colombia

Our thoughts:
The natural processing of these beans means that they are dried as whole cherries (with the pulp) for a certain period of time giving the beans the richness and depth of notes. When we tried it for the first time, we immediately got the sweetness of the sugarcane notes in the palate, mixed with the sharpness of the strawberries. In addition to trying them through pour-over methods, these beans are also perfect to enjoy as a cold brew or iced coffee. 

Origins:
Santa Bárbara Estate is composed of 5 sister farms that lie across three neighbouring, geographical regions - Santa Bárbara, Fredonia, and Amagá. Established in the 1980s, from the beginning Sr. Pedro Echavarria knew that location was crucial. Attracted by diverse microclimates, singular volcanic soils, perfect altitude, and a tradition of excellence in coffee production, he established a small farm in the high Andes of Antioquia. 

In the last five years, Pedro’s son – also Pedro – has become more deeply involved in the workings of the Estate’s farms, taking the already high quality of the coffee to new heights through experimentation in processing and increased monitoring and control of every stage of production. All Natural processing has now been moved to AguaLinda (one of Santa Barbara Estates 5 sister farms). The family named the highest farm in the estate Agualinda because of the many water sources and creeks found on the property. The family always keeps a donkey named ‘Pascual’ on the premises as a sort of ‘mascot’ for the farm.

Agualinda

Coffee roasters and coffeeshop specialising in specialty Colombian coffee.

Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters

Belen (Organic)

Iqualdad Mujeres Hombres

Villamaria (Natural)

Hacienda El Jardin

@em ordered via their website (got seduced by their permit I and ordered 30 gbp worth coffee to get a free fetch press). Got the advice to try them from a friend

Loma Casagrande

El Santuario

Finca La Esperanza

La Pradera

Misak (Decaf)

Finca Monteblanco

Kurumukis

Varietal: Castillo, Colombia, Caturra
Roast: Medium Roast
Farmer: The Women’s Group - Igualdad Mujeres Hombres (IMH)
Region: Risaralda, Valle del Cauca
Our thoughts:
Great coffee from the IMH Group - yet again! Its a full bodied coffee with notes of Apple, Grapes and Caramel giving it a well rounded profile. It will yield great results when prepared as an espresso, or with an aeropress / French Press method. A great addition for the everyday coffee!     

Origins:

The women’s group IMH (Igualdad Mujeres Hombres) is an initiative of rural women that have been part of a continuous process of learning, with the aim of producing and processing high quality coffee. We have previously purchased the entire micro-lot from this group as a way of supporting their initiative and continue to maintain that partnership.

 The group are focussed on processing techniques, from picking to drying, with the goal of improving notes for sale into the specialty market. From this association, the women promote workshops and exchange between both male and female coffee producers. The goal here is to enhance productivity in the long term, encouraging respectful dynamics between men and women in these rural areas of Colombia. This group strives for equal opportunities for women, to be able to decide the future of the returns that their sales produce, for both the business and their family. Their farms are located near the Tatama natural park i

Igualdad Mujeres Hombres

Varietal: Caturra, Castillo, Colombia
Drying Process: Sun-Dried (Open or Patio) & Fermented 12 to 48 hours
Roast: Medium Roast
Region: Nariño
Farmer: A Small Group of Farmers

Origins

The Department of Nariño is located in the southwest of Colombia, just above the equator and on the border with Ecuador. The region is strikingly mountainous and boasts no fewer than five volcanoes: Chiles (4,718 metres), Cumbal (4,764 metres), Azufral (4,070 metres), Doña Juana (4,250 metres) and Galeras (4,276 metres).

Coffee here is indeed grown on the very slopes of Galeras, an Andean stratovolcano that has been active for at least a million years. This volcano is also known for being the most active volcano in Colombia, and since its activation in 1988 following 10 years of dormancy, has erupted numerous times in our recent history, including in 1993 and 2013.

Galeras continue to loom over the region’s main city of Pasto and coffee is still grown on all of the surrounding hillsides, where soils have greatly benefited from volcanic compounds that have been disseminated over time.

Producers in this region are overwhelmingly small-hold farmers, who manage their own self-sufficient wet-mills and patios (open or covered) for drying. In essence, every family does their own harvesting, usually with the help of neighbours. And after red and ripe cherries are picked, they are pulped by passing through a manual pulper at the family farm (usually located close to the main house).

The waste from this process is then used later as a natural fertilizer for the coffee trees. Depending on the conditions fermentation can range between 12 up to 48 hours. Also, some producers will add several layers of wet parchment over the course of a few days, which is thought to add complexity to the fermentation process and final cup profile.

Once fermentation is complete, coffee is washed anywhere between 2-4 times, before being taken either to open patios or greenhouses to be sun-dried. Luckily, Nariño is blessed with some of the best drying conditions in the country due to the micro-climate and high altitude of the region, providing lower relative humidity, more wind and more sunny days than other areas of the country.

Las Galeras

Varietal: Castillo
Drying Process: Mechanical Dried
Roast: Medium Roast
Region: Cundinamarca (Tena)
Farmer: The Torres Family
Farm: Finca Santa Monica

Origins

These beans are produced by the Torres family who arrived in Tena in 1959 where they started their first family business, a road-side hotel-restaurant. Their dream was always to help the community develop and attract more visitors to the beautiful area from nearby Bogata.

In 1975, the family eventually bought 4-5 hectares of land and started what today is the impressive Finca Santa Monica — a well-organised coffee producing farm that is now managed by Rosaura Torres, the only daughter of the Torres family. 

With only 20 thousand trees planted and producing coffee, their main focus has been on growing specialty coffee to the highest standards in Colombia, recognised for its incredibly sweet taste.

Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters

4.2

Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Coffee Roasts

Agualinda

Belen (Organic)

Finca Monteblanco

Finca Santa Monica

Hacienda El Jardin

Igualdad Mujeres Hombres

Kurumukis

La Pradera

Las Galeras

Loma Casagrande

Misak (Decaf)

San Jose

Villamaria (Natural)

Coffee archive

El Santuario

Finca La Esperanza

Iqualdad Mujeres Hombres

New Coffee Review