Tasting notes

 - Green apple, starfruit & syrupy

Brewing

We suggest using this coffee for filter brew methods, such as a pourover, aeropress, chemex or batch brew (or similar). It's roasted a bit lighter to accentuate the delicious fruitiness and acidity that we love.

Origin Information

Country : Colombia

State : Tolima

Municipality : Cajamarca

Town : Cajamarca

Elevation : 1730 MASL

Variety : Mixed Varieties

Processing : Washed

Farm size : 30 hectares (8 under coffee)

Farm Owner : Neftalí Castro

Growth Story

This coffee was grown and processed by Neftalí Castro on his family’s farm, El Diamante (which translates to “the diamond” in Spanish), located near the town and municipality of Cajamarca, in the state of Tolima, Colombia. The 30 hectare property is owned and managed by Neftalí and his sisters, who are the third generation to run the farm.

When the farm was first established, the family planted plantain, green beans, potatoes and a local root vegetable called arrachacha. They also kept a small plot of Typica trees, but coffee was neither a priority nor an important source of income. This changed in 2008, when Neftalí, the youngest of the siblings, decided to return to his family farm and take over its management, after many years working as a mechanic in Tolima’s capital, Ibagué.

From the outset, his focus was on coffee production. During an inspiring visit to the renowned coffee producing region of Pitalito, Huila, he had recognised the potential of coffee and, from that point forward, was determined to pursue the social benefits of the crop for himself and his family.

Neftalí expanded the land dedicated to coffee by planting a further eight hectares of the Caturra variety. He established careful farming practices and built a small beneficio (wet mill) and drying sheds to process his crop. His efforts were rewarded when he placed 29^th in 2009’s COE auction, then again in 2011 when he achieved an incredible 3^rd place in the competition.

Neftalí is proactive and ingenious, and always has several projects on the go — whether that’s committing to helping neighbours improve their farms’ infrastructures, or investigating and trialing new coffee varieties on a plot he calls ‘La Locura,’ (which translates to “the madness“) where this particular offering comes from. This fascinating corner of the property is haphazardly planted with all the varieties grown at El Diamante, and is heavily overgrown with native shade trees. Due to its position on the side of a very steep hill, the trees at ‘La Locura’ are difficult to reach, adding to the sense that coffee here grows on wild and untamed terrain.