Americans view the coffees from Colombia as among the finest in the world. The credit goes in part to Juan Valdez, the fictional grower, who’s been promoting Colombian coffee since 1958, and a creation of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. In reality, there are roughly 500,000 Colombian coffee growers, 60% of whom tend less than one hectare. And the average farm is about 3 hectares, typically harvesting 20 to 40 sacks of coffee (152 pounds per sack) each harvest. Growers come from 20 different Colombian coffee growing regions, many displaying great variation in cupping characteristics. The reasons Colombia is so perfect for coffee farming are the attributes nature provides: rich soils of volcanic ash, a unique topography that permits planting at various altitudes at least 1,800 meters and a climate warm enough to permit two growing seasons a year. In Colombia, coffee farming is woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Set between the Eastern and Central cordilleras, or mountain ranges, in the valley of the Magdalena River, lies the Huila coffee growing region of Colombia. A large growing region, Huila is rural and diverse with many micro-regions. Each of these micro-regions offer different elevations, landscape and coffee cultures. Each grower may produce different varietals and employs different processing techniques. In one particular small town, Elias (also known as La Mesa de Elias) in the southern part of Huila, is a 3.5-hectare farm called La Pradera, owned by Miller Muñoz Garzon. He plants at a slightly lower altitude than most, 1,800 meters, growing two varietals: 75% Caturra and 25% Colombia F6.
We particularly love the coffee Señor Garzon has produced at La Pradera. His fruit undergoes a washed, natural fermentation for 24 hours, then patio-dried in the Colombian sun. The result is a complex cup imbued with the flavor notes of tropical fruits, caramel and watermelon. This unique cup is graced with a juicy body, maybe even syrupy. When you taste it, you will want to thank Señor Garzon. Let us know and we will pass it along.
Region: Huila
Farm/Co-op: La Pradera
Varietal(s): Caturra, Colombia F6
Avg. Altitude: 1800 meters
Harvest: September – December
Processing: Washed
Flavor Notes: Tropical Fruits, Caramel, Watermelon
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