Juicy flavours of tangerine and stone-fruits combined with caramel, and a hint of cacao nibs and sugar cane in the finish.
Popayán sits at the heart of Colombia's Cauca department, cradled between the Western and Central Andes. The surrounding ranges act as a natural shelter, creating the kind of stable, year-round climate that coffee farmers dream about: temperatures between 14 and 29°C, consistent humidity, and slow, even cherry ripening at altitude. At 1,700 to 2,000 metres, the volcanic soil is still nutrient-rich from ancient eruptions. Most farms here are small, typically under five hectares, which means careful, selective harvesting is the norm rather than the exception.
Cauca runs on two seasons: drier in the middle of the year, wetter at the start and end. That creates subtle differences from one harvest to the next. The 2025 crop is a snapshot of the region at this particular moment.
Five varieties, one cup
This coffee draws on five classic Colombian varieties: Colombia, Castillo, Caturra, Catimor, and Typica. Caturra is a natural mutation of Bourbon, compact and expressive. Castillo and Catimor are more recent Colombian developments, bred for resistance to coffee leaf rust while holding their quality in the cup. Typica is one of the oldest cultivated varieties in the world: clean, elegant, and reliable. Together, they produce something well-rounded and cohesive rather than a single varietal statement.
Cofinet
This coffee comes to us through Cofinet, a Colombian-owned exporter with 80 years of history in the country's coffee industry. Brothers Carlos and Felipe Arcila founded the specialty operation. They're fourth-generation coffee farmers who work closely with around 75 smallholder growers in the Popayán area, many of them relationships built from the very start. Farmers in the programme receive up to 20% above market price, based on quality assessment. A genuine incentive to prioritise craft over volume. You can taste that care in the cup.
- Country: Colombia
- State/Department: Cauca
- Region: Popayán
- Farms: Various smallholder producers (via Cofinet)
- Varieties: Colombia, Castillo, Caturra, Catimor, Typica
- Elevation: 1,700 – 2,000 m.a.s.l.
- Processing: Washed