On the cupping table:

Very clean for an anaerobic coffee, with tasting notes of blackberry, a pineapple-like acidity and red-apple sweetness. An amazing filter and delicious as a cortado or flat white.

Coffee grower:

Deep within the lush landscapes of southern Huila lies La Fortuna, one of the farms owned and run by the family of Mrs Blanca Ruby Lopez Tibatá. She is a third-generation coffee grower who oversees this beacon of agricultural excellence. Together with her family, she brings a legacy of knowledge and passion to every aspect of their work, driven by a commitment to producing high-quality coffee while respecting the environment and cultural traditions.

Their farm has grown from modest beginnings of 5 hectares of traditional varieties like Caturra, Castillo and Colombia into a centre of specialty coffee production. Nine years ago, faced with fluctuating coffee prices, the Lopez Tibatá family set out to explore and experiment, and began growing unique varieties such as Gesha and different Bourbons. This shift marked a significant change in their farming practices, a journey that continues today.

Processing:

Only ripe cherries are carefully selected at harvest. The cherries are then floated to remove dry cherries, stones and impurities, so only the best make it to the next stage. The pulped cherries then undergo a 72-hour fermentation, a critical step that enhances the coffee's inherent qualities.

After fermentation, the beans are washed thoroughly and laid out on drying patios under canopies, where they dry slowly at temperatures between 16 and 23 degrees Celsius. This careful, controlled process contributes to the coffee's unique flavour profile and high quality.

Bourbon Ají

Bourbon Ají is a variety new to the market, discovered about 20 years ago in the Bruselas area of the Pitalito district. Growers discovered it through the aromas they noticed around the plants. What makes it unique is that it stings the pickers' hands at harvest. It has many unusual qualities, such as its particular chili-like flavour, hence the name (ají means chili pepper).