Finca La Julieta FW - Estefania Gonzalez

Estefania is a dedicated and meticulous coffee producer and puts a great deal of effort into ensuring the quality of her production. She also has location on her side and a great cooperative to work with, Cafisevilla (Cooperative de Caficultores de Sevilla). 

Estefania’s farm is in the northeast of the Valle del Cauca department. Northern Valle del Cauca is, along with Huila, Nariño and Cauca Departments, becoming known as Colombia’s “new coffee belt.” Previously, the Eje Cafetero (the Colombian Coffee Growing Axis) was the major coffee producing region in Colombia; however, today’s coffee enthusiasts are turning southward to the “new coffee belt” for brighter, more intense flavors. 

Coffee in Valle del Cauca is cultivated in altitudes between 1,600 and 2,000 meters above sea level. The predominant varieties are Castillo, Colombia and few Caturra hybrids. Coffee is typically cultivated under shade with fruit trees, plantains, bananas and some avocadoes intercropped between coffee trees. Unlike other departments—where coffee growing areas are divided by “ecotopes” (microclimates)—in Valle del Cauca, the land is divided by micro-cuencas, micro river basins that play a significant role in determining coffee quality and taste.

Due to the small size of her farm, Estefania and her family do most of the manual labor on the farm themselves. They also intercrop bananas and plantains, which can serve as both subsistence and cash crops. Cafisevilla (Cooperative de Caficultores de Sevilla) was founded in 1960. 

At the time, many coffee farmers in Sevilla, Valle del Cauca felt that the existing purchasing system was not benefiting producers. Due to excess supply and a lack of infrastructure to transport or store coffee, purchasers had immense power to determine prices. The system was also very inefficient. Farmers could wait in line for hours only to have their harvest rejected when they finally reached the front of the line. There were 183 original members. Since then, their numbers have climbed, and the role of Cafisevilla has continued to evolve to better support its members. 

Beginning in 1982, the cooperative began moving towards creating more communally-held resources and benefits. Over the following decades, they purchased a roasting machine to add value to their coffees and sell roasted beans on the domestic market, created a workshop for women to manufacture clothing and earn additional income and employed doctors to teach preventative measures to community members. Today, the cooperative continues to help its members by offering technical assistance, access to credit, farmer outreach and training, and a variety of inputs and materials at their agricultural supply warehouse.

Estefania selectively handpicks cherry from her coffee trees on Finca Julieta. She then pulps ripe cherry using a small drum pulper and wet ferments it. Following fermentation, Estefania washes the parchment in clean water and lays it to dry in the sun on the flat roof of her home for approximately 10 days. Once dry, she bags her coffee and delivers it to her cooperative, CafiSevilla, where it rests for approximately 1 to 2 months. Finally, her coffee is sent to Invercafe Dry Mill in Chinchina, Caldas where it is milled and prepared for export.

Cafisevilla (Cooperative de Caficultores de Sevilla) was founded in 1960. At the time, many coffee farmers in Sevilla, Valle del Cauca felt that the existing purchasing system was not benefiting producers. Due to excess supply and a lack of infrastructure to transport or store coffee, purchasers had immense power to determine prices. The system was also very inefficient. Farmers could wait in line for hours only to have their harvest rejected when they finally reached the front of the line.

There were 183 original members. Since then, their numbers have climbed, and the role of Cafisevilla has continued to evolve to better support its members.

Beginning in 1982, the cooperative began moving towards creating more communally-held resources and benefits. Over the following decades, they purchased a roasting machine to add value to their coffees and sell roasted beans on the domestic market, created a workshop for women to manufacture clothing and earn additional income, and employed doctors to teach preventative measures to community members.

Today, the cooperative continues to help its members by offering technical assistance, access to credit, farmer outreach and training, and a variety of inputs and materials at their agricultural supply warehouse.

Great coffee is built on great relationships. We’ve been working with our in-country partner in Colombia, Cafexport, to find farmers who are producing delicious coffees and connect them with you.Cafexport, our in-country partner, is built on the strength of 20 years of meaningful and productive relationships with Colombian coffee cooperatives.

Most of the coffees we purchase from Cafexport are the product of many years of partnership between Cafexport, cooperatives, and farmers. Many are also certified, traceable coffees whose certification, combined with high quality processing and preparation, are sought after by established roasters across the globe.

The majority of the cooperatives with whom we work through Cafexport are from the regions of Caldas, Huila, Tolima, Antioquia, Quindío, Santander, and Magdalena. We like to keep our list of sourcing regions long because diversification allows us to offer coffee with different specifications, flavors and harvest and shipping times to suit every need.