
Edwin Noreña – The innovative farmer
Edwin Noreña is the coffee designer behind Finca Campo Hermoso, Quindio, Colombia. He’s an innovative farmer who is changing the traditional way of processing coffee.
Santa Maria, Huila, South of Colombia
1750-2150 m.a.s.l
Castillo, Pink bourbon, Caturro, Colombia, Typica
Most of the member farmers of “Productores del Futuro” program comes from this area. The Coffee Quest initiated this program to establish direct and stable relationships with small-scale producers. Our aim goes beyond providing fair prices and economic bonuses for their quality coffee. We also empower them with the necessary tools and resources to enhance their coffee’s quality and create social programs that open doors to better opportunities for their families.
Santa Maria, our North Huila group lot, showcases the success of our partnership with the local community. Despite the challenges posed by internal armed conflicts (guerrillas), our presence has enabled us to establish personal connections with farmers and support them in improving their coffee production.
Led by Alberto Vaquiro (23 y.o), one of our Quality Coordinators, the Santa Maria team (with Camila, Daniela, Nicolas) carefully select and combine lots from farmers in the Huila region to create this exceptional group lot. Alberto, hailing from a coffee farming family in Garzón, South Huila, found his passion in cupping and has become a renowned local cupper in South Colombia.
Alberto introduces innovative methods, such as anaerobic fermentations, to traditional farmers who are initially hesitant to change. However, witnessing the visible improvements and enhanced cupping scores of their coffee, these farmers have come to respect Alberto’s advice and embrace the advancements.
“I started as a warehouse assistant, but one day I saw what the cuppers were doing and I was curious too. Every time I was alone in the lab, I was trying to replicate what they were doing. Day by day, I learned how to recognize different flavours in a cup” – Alberto Vaquiro, TCQ Quality Coordinator in South Colombia
Santa Maria is our group lot which reaches a consistent 84 point-quality. The profile of the Santa Maria lot showcases a balanced cup with soft plum and sweet citrus fruit notes. The potential of this flavour profile makes this a multi-purpose lot ideal for espresso or filter.
This quality is the most commonly accepted in our regional station in Santa Maria. The lot provides a less complex (if compared to our 84+ lots), but beautiful clean cup. This profile is found across Huila, but the station is able to provide additional value in consistency. Each individual lot that ends up in the group lot “Santa Maria” has been cupped several times and added based on the determined cup profile.
In addition to cup quality, each coffee must meet strict physical requirements, including our moisture content and water activity guidelines. The first time a lot is cupped is when the producer brings a sample to our buying station. Upon approval, the producer will then bring the lot down to the warehouse where it will be cupped again, taking a sample from each sack to ensure consistency. Upon final approval, the parchment coffee is packed in grain-pro and remains untouched until the entire lot is milled.
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Edwin Noreña is the coffee designer behind Finca Campo Hermoso, Quindio, Colombia. He’s an innovative farmer who is changing the traditional way of processing coffee.
Santa Maria is our stable 84points group lot consisting of coffees from small producers around the area with whom we have direct relationships.
Jorge Rojas, a fourth-generation coffee grower, manages Finca El Jardin. He developed an innovative fermentation and drying process.
Delfin Carvajal from Finca El Corozal in Garzón, Huila, is a talented and ambitious coffee producer.
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