Huila La Virgen Excelso EP RFA Fully Washed

Rainforest Alliance (RFA) is a certification system that emphasizes climate-smart agriculture. RFA farms have at least 40% of land covered in canopy, significant species diversity (at least 12 native tree species per hectare, on average) and a system of natural vegetation buffers between agricultural land and bodies of water.  The farms must also use only organic fertilizers.  

Our in-country partner, InConexus, worked directly with the contributing coffee producers to help them achieve RFA certification. They donated the machinery and tools necessary to treat processing waste water and provided training on climate-smart agriculture.  

Now that they’ve achieve RFA certification, both the farmers and InConexus are extremely proud. In the future, they’re focusing on increasing yields, enhancing traceability and continuing to improve environmental practices on farms.  

RFA certification and the additional improvements InConexus has helped farmers make on their farms have translated into access to international markets and higher prices per pound.  

Soil in the region is primarily loamy, though exact soil composition varies from area to area. As a whole, farms in the region are highly susceptible to erosion. This means that farmers must plant shade trees and other soil erosion-prevention methods to keep their fertile topsoil in place. 

Farmers selectively handpick ripe cherry and pulp them on their farms. Parchment is then fermented for 13 to 15 hours. On average, coffee is dried for between 8 and 15 days, during which time it will be regularly turned and sorted to remove any damaged beans.  

The Huila region is one of the most well-known coffee growing areas of Colombia. The Department of Huila has a population of 1.125 million and is located in the southwest of the country. The capital of the department is Neiva, a city of about 380,000.  

Along with Cauca and Nariño, Huila is one the three departments where the Colombian Massif is located. A massif is a group of mountain ranges and the Colombian Massif, which is known locally as Nudo de Almaguer, provides up to 70% of safe drinking and agricultural water for the Colombian population. 

The Magdalena River, Colombia’s largest river, runs through the region, providing plenty of water for coffee farming and generating (directly and indirectly) up to 86% of Colombia's GDP. The mountain range also features the fertile volcanic soil so typical to the Andean Mountains. 

Over the years, the term Excelso has held a few different meanings. What has not changed, however, is that only the best Colombian coffees are permitted to be exported.  

Excelso is supplied in steady volume throughout the year. In the cup, it displays a reliably distinctive combination of body and acidity.  

EP stands for European Preparation. EP beans are Screen 15+ with a low defect tolerance.