Super sweet with zingy citrus notes and a lingering, moreish mouthfeel. On the western side of Huila, you'll find Gigante: a municipality famous for its coffee. Here, up in the mountains, Luis Carlos Gutierrez and his wife Sandra Milena Pardo grow incredible coffee richly infused with family history. The farm, El Mirador, was initially purchased by Luis’ grandfather, Dagoberto Gutierrez. It was then passed on to Luis Carlos’ father who, in turn, allocated a parcel of the farm to his children. Coffee, with its extraordinary aroma, became a conduit for the family and its history; a life full of gratitude for what they’ve been able to achieve, empowered by the farm and its crops. Since the moment Luis Carlos spearheaded the change towards production of high-quality coffee, cherry picking has improved immensely. This suite of improvements has yielded wonderful results, such as Luis Carlos’ coffee reaching Top 20 in the Cup of Excellence Colombia 2022. El Mirador (‘The Lookout’ in English) is a special place with an amazing view of Gigante from the farm. It’s within these surroundings that Luis Carlos begins his coffee process by carefully picking ripe cherries in order to guarantee top-tier quality. Cherries are then taken to the wet mill and left to ferment inside bags for between 40-60 hours, climate-dependent. When ready, the cherries are floated to remove any defects, then taken to the drying area for a stay of approximately three weeks’ duration. When ready, it’s off to the purchasing station they go! We paid 50% above the fairtrade price for this coffee. Learn more here.
