This is a lovely example of how good hybrid varieties can be when they are at their best. This V. Colombia is exceptionally clean, with articulated fruit and excellent sweetness and structure. In the cup we find blackberry, vanilla, and lime.
V. Colombia
Rica Brisa, Tarqui, Huila
1,800 - 1,900 masl
Mitaca; December, 2020
Hand picked at peak ripeness. Floated to further remove defects. Held in cherry for 24 hours. Depulped. Dry fermented for 36 hours. Carried by horseback to the village of Rica Brisa, where it is dried for 20 days.
ABOUT JUAN RAMOS
Juan Ramos is a member of an extended family of coffee growers located around the small hamlet of Rica Brisa, near Tarqui, Huila. Despite having excellent altitude and climate for growing coffee, most of Juan’s family members sell their coffee in cherry to local buyers. While this is the fastest way to get paid, it is also the lowest price a grower will receive; generally pegged to the global commodity price of coffee. We were immediately struck with the quality of this coffee, and are happy to have the opportunity to introduce Juan to the larger global specialty market.
ABOUT MONKAABA
Monkaaba is a group of producers who have been selling their coffee to the specialty market for many years. They have collectively decided that they would like to be more autonomous in their coffee production, and have more involvement in its marketing and sales. Monkaaba is committed to helping producers throughout Huila by teaching them how to cup their own coffees and how and why specific coffees are either accepted or rejected by the specialty market. This group is currently working with growers of all levels of experience in San Agustín and Tarqui to cup and discuss in depth the challenges they are facing on the way to their goals and dreams. The early results of this program have been very successful.
ABOUT VARIETY COLOMBIA
Variety Colombia (V. Colombia) is the result of the hybridization of Caturra with the Timor Hybrid. Developed over five generations by Cenicafé between 1968 and 1982, V. Colombia is high-yielding, and has excellent resistance to disease. This combination of traits makes V. Colombia a very popular variety in Colombia. It generally has decent cup quality potential, but with improved picking practices and fermentation experiments we are seeing quality improve dramatically.
Pricing Details
Farm Gate (Local)
1.7MM COP/Carga
Farm Gate (USD)
~$4.89/KG
FOB
$6.61/KG
FOT
$9.92/KG
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.