Santa Maria, Huila – A successful story of partnership

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