Story
Huila Region
The Colombian region Huila is well known for a great coffee growing geography, unique altitudes and talented producers. Despite its vast area, coffee production here thrives mostly through small-scale farms. In fact, about 80% of the producers are working on plots smaller than 3 hectares, where families harvest the crops themselves without outsourcing any extra labour. These small family-run farms allow for a very hands-on, personal approach to coffee farming.
Villa Betulia Farm
Villa Betulia, located in the heart of San Agustín in Huila, is a farm where Luis and his family have been promoting specialty coffee within their community for over 15 years. They’ve been inspiring neighbours and relatives to grow exceptional coffee as well.
Originally, the farm focused on traditional varieties like Castillo and Colombia. But about 12 years ago, Luis introduced the Geisha variety, and that was a real turning point. Today, Villa Betulia is home to more than 20 different coffee varieties. It’s like a coffee festival, with something new around every corner!
Processing
This coffee goes through a 150-hour fermentation process, starting with 36 hours of aerobic fermentation, then transitioning to anaerobic conditions in plastic bags. After that, it’s dried in a controlled mechanical silo for 8 days at temperatures below 45°C. This careful process is all about preserving the intense flavours developed during fermentation.
It’s not just coffee; it’s a whole flavour experience with a unique story behind it.