The group: Danny (JBL), Hamish (Coffee Partners), Alanah (Raglan Roast) Alice (JBL), Tom (Hawthorne), Damon (Maven), Natalia (Sucden Colombia)
What a whirlwind trip of Colombia! We took 8 flights in 7 days and visited 7 cities/towns. While it was jam packed, it was the best way to see as much as we could of this vibrant and beautiful country. The team at Sucden Colombia were the most amazing hosts, and they had planned the trip so well. We saw a mix of cooperatives, large farms, small family farms, traditional and experimental techniques, fermentation techniques and cupped some great coffee! We had a very patient translator, Davide, and tour guides/Colombian coffee experts Paulina, Angie and Eleazar. A big thanks to Andres and Pablo for allowing us this incredible opportunity.
Day One: Exploring Bogota
Day Two: 6am flight to Nevia, drive from Nevia to Timana, farm #1 visit, farm #2 visit, drive from Timana to Garzon
Today we visited Finca Las Brias, owned by Juan and his family
Altitude: 1600masl
Size: 6 hectares of coffee trees
Varietals grown: Colombia, Caturra
Day Three: Drive from Garzon to La Plata, farm #3 visit, drive from La Plata to Nevia, flight to Bogota
Today we visited La Esmeralda, owned by Carlos and Lidia Campos, who bought the 25yr old farm farm 3 years ago
Altitude: 1600masl
Size: 23 hectares, 17 of that are coffee trees
Varietals grown: Pink Bourbon, Colombia, Yellow Bourbon
Day Four: 6am flight to Armenia, Sucden mill visit, farm #4 visit, drive to Pereira
The Sucden mill in Armenia processes 30,000 bags of coffee per month, ready for export
Farm Campo Hermoso – owned by Edwin Norena
Size: 25 Hectares
Varietals: Pink Bourbon, Colombia, Yellow Bourbon, Geisha
Process: Uses hops, dried fruit and extended fermentation, drying for 9-11 days
Day Five: Farm #5 visit, flight to Bogota, final dinner with the group
Chicago Farm
Size: 150 hectares of coffee
Varietals: Colombia, Catimor – all conventional varieties
