Colombia La Leona

Origin: Colombia Region: Quindio Producer(s): Luz Helena Salazar Variety: Pink Bourbon Altitude: 1450-1500 meters above sea level Processing: Washed Process Flavor Notes: Cranberry + Orange In 2024, we connected with the Colombian importer Cofinet. We’d been fans of coffees from Colombia for a long time, and the coffees we tasted from Cofinet were exceptional across the board. Upon tasting their selections from that year’s harvest, it was clear that a lot of care and attention went into their production - from rare and experimental lots to the more basic regional lots. After talking with them and learning about the company, it was clear that this is a group that we wanted to support, and we’ve been buying from them each year since. Cofinet is run by a family of coffee farmers that has been in business for 80 years. In 2015, they began exporting coffee with the aim of further developing the specialty scene in Colombia by assisting other farmers in producing outstanding coffees that will guarantee a high premium for their hard work. When cupping through this year’s offerings, this lot really stood out! Luz Helena Salazar has been producing coffee for the last 20 years, with the last few years focused on specialty production. She owns the La Leona farm, and is the mother of the two co-founders of Cofinet. She grows a number of coffee varieties, including pink bourbon (of which this lot is comprised). This variety is known for its sweet, fruity, and floral notes, often accompanied by a vibrant acidity and a silky body. It is adaptable to a number of conditions and grows particularly well in higher altitudes - crucial for developing the complex flavors and vibrant acidity for which pink bourbon is known. Luz Helena and her team of pickers selectively harvest only the ripest coffee fruits (cherries). The cherries are then transported to the La Leona sorting area, where the team meticulously hand-sorts and floats them to eliminate any low-density, underripe, or defective cherries. Once sorted, the coffee cherries are transported to Cofinet’s processing center, La Pradera. There the coffee is sorted again by placing the cherries in water tanks to float them and to remove any low-density cherries and external material. After this, the cherries undergo a 30-hour underwater fermentation—a critical step that enhances the coffee's flavor profile. This controlled fermentation process allows the sugars, organic acids, and other compounds within the cherries to break down gradually, allowing the development of a flavor profile which strikes a harmonious balance of sweetness and acidity. After fermentation, the cherries are pulped, and the mucilage is thoroughly washed away. The water used in the washing process is recycled and reused for floating subsequent batches of cherries. The wastewater generated during this washed process is then treated using a green filtration system. As a result, no contaminated water is produced by the processing center, ensuring an environmentally sustainable operation. Once the coffee is washed, it is spread out on raised beds in a greenhouse. The team monitors it closely to ensure even drying and optimal quality - aiming for 9.5%-11% moisture content. It is then rested in preparation for export. This attention to detail at every step yields phenomenal results! Look for a sweet and delicate cup with flavors of cranberry, orange, molasses, and fresh florals with a lingering sweetness, a crisp acidity and a silky body. This offering is from a small lot and we expect to sell out of this quickly. All coffees are available in whole bean only. We roast and ship on Mondays and Thursdays. Orders placed Thursday through Sunday at midnight will roast and ship on Monday. Orders placed Monday through Wednesday at midnight will roast and ship on Thursday.