About This Coffee
Elkin Guzman cultivates coffee on 31 hectares at Finca El Mirador in Palestina, Huila. Huila’s high altitudes and fertile soils provide excellent growing conditions for cultivating specialty coffee. In order to further differentiate his coffees, Elkin has been experimenting with innovative processing methods, such as the Hydro Honey used in this lot.
Elkin has operated the farm for over 20 years with a focus on data-driven innovation and meticulous processing protocols that ensure consistency across every harvest.
Cultivation
El Mirador's soils are a nutrient-rich combination of sandy loam and clay loam with a good reserve of humus and organic matter, providing excellent nutrition for the coffee trees. Coffee is grown under a semi-shade system that supports temperature regulation and optimizes photosynthesis. Elkin's approach to cultivation is inseparable from his approach to processing: every step is recorded, replicated and refined, contributing to consistent results across lots and seasons.
Beyond traditional varieties like Caturra, Castillo and Colombia, Elkin cultivates an impressive range of exotic varietals including Ombligon, Geisha, Catiope, Tabi, Orange Bourbon, Wush-Wush, Sidra and Striped Bourbon, positioning El Mirador as one of Huila's most forward-thinking farms.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Only cherry of perfect ripeness is used for this lot, with an average Brix degree of 20 to 24. Elkin provides periodic training for workers to ensure rigorous cherry selection at picking.
Once picked, cherry is hand sorted and floated to remove underripes before pulping. The pulped coffee is then placed in a cooling room to undergo cold fermentation, a process Elkin began developing in 2015 after two years of study to find the right balance between Brix measurement, fermentation time and temperature. This controlled cold environment extends the fermentation and enhances the complexity and diversity of the cup profile.
After fermentation, the coffee is fully washed with clean water and laid to sundry, with workers raking regularly to ensure even drying.
Ombligon
Ombligon comes from "ombligo", the Spanish word for belly button. It’s a local name for a variety that has a belly button-like shape. The exact origin of this variety is unclear. Some conjecture that it is a new variety that was selected from varieties growing at an abandoned CENICAFE research center in Huila. Others think it may be another term for Pacamara. Either way, when treated with a quality focus, Ombligon produces an enjoyable, high-quality cup.
Clearpath
Founded by experienced agricultural trader Vicente Mejía, Clearpath Coffee works with producers in Colombia and exports high quality, sustainable single-origin coffees from smallholders, cooperatives and estates. Clearpath partners with producers to support ethical, sustainable growth through fair prices, direct communication with buyers and building long term relationships with sustainability-minded buyers.
Coffee in Colombia
Colombia has been producing and exporting coffee renowned for their full body, bright acidity and rich aftertaste, since the early 19th century.
Colombia boasts a wide range of climates and geographic conditions that produce their own unique flavors in coffee. This also means that harvest times can vary quite a bit. In fact, between all its different regions, Colombia produces fresh crop nearly all year round.
The increasing focus on the specialty industry is changing the way traders and farmers do business. It is becoming more common for farmers to isolate the highest quality beans in their lots to market separately. These higher-quality lots are often sold under specific brands or stories.
Besides its wide variety of cup profiles, Colombia has quickly expanded its certification options over the past 10 years. The most common certifications available are Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and Organic.