San Francisco | Colombia

Bright and vibrant, with honey blossom and vanilla florals. Pineapple, green apple and lemon lime acidity, with great clarity and length.

This lot comes from a group of 6 smallholder producers, led by Gabriel Quilindo, who grow coffee in the community of San Francisco. Located in the municipality of La Plata, in the state of Huila, Colombia the region is found at a staggering elevation of 1,900-2,100m above sea level. San Francisco is a steep, narrow stretch of land that borders the town of Inza, in the state of Cauca, and forms part of the Macizo Colombiano (‘Great Colombian Massif’). Much like that found in these well-known coffee regions, the volcanic soil in San Francisco is perfect for coffee growing. Farmers here also benefit from year-round cool temperatures, abundant access to clean water, and almost exclusively produce coffee from older Caturra trees in plots of land under 2 hectares in size.

The municipality of La Plata has a long history of coffee-growing and agriculture. Along with coffee, the region is known for growing rice, plantain and cacao and for its rich biodiversity. For decades, the centre of town has served as the hub for the local coffee cherry market, as farmers from nearby Inza, Paez and Rio Chiquito (all around 90-minute drives away) would sell their crop here to domestic coffee traders. Recognising the benefits of having a strong presence in town, our friends at Pergamino (our supply partners in Colombia) established a collection point in La Plata and began investing in and training farmers in the municipality and nearby towns.

Today, operations at La Plata are managed by Felipe Henao, whose brother Leonardo is the Head of Quality Control and Logistics at Pergamino. Felipe has spent many years being Pergamino’s “boots on the ground,” giving him the opportunity to learn the intricacies of the different growing regions. By working side-by-side with many producers, Felipe has also been able to establish meaningful, long-term relationships across the Colombian countryside. This experience made him the ideal point person at La Plata, as the role requires him to be in constant communication with Pergamino’s HQ in Medellin, while making complex purchasing decisions and handling logistics on the field.

Responsibly sourced by the excellent team at Melbourne Coffee Merchants.