Colombia - La Soledad #7

Brew Guide:

Best Brewed with: Filter

Lightest Influence: We're roasting it bright and clean to really highlight the variety character this lot shows - although trad washed coffees do tend to need a smidge more time in the roaster compared to their more processed compatriots.

Best Rested: 3-4 weeks

Filter: 60g/L, 97°C when fresh but when well rested you can go down to 92-93°C

Espresso: 18g/50g/20s - turbo shots. May have enough fines generation to run a tighter yield, but will be quite acid forward

We’re tasting: Sweet herbal aromatics of fresh blackcurrant leaf. In the cup high sweetness & malic acidity that reminds us of poached rhubarb, honeyed greengage plum; the sweet spiced aromatics of tonka bean custard add a patisserie element to the profile. As it cools becomes more like the jasmine, coconut & vanilla of fig leaf. Delicious and unique

Traceability

The Story

Colombia's coffee industry continues to evolve as producers embrace innovative varieties whilst maintaining the quality standards that define the country's reputation. Importers like Nordic Approach have adapted their sourcing strategies to meet growing demand for these distinctive coffees & new varieties, but crucially they're still buying the classic clean washed style lots for which their reputation was first gained - a refreshing contrast to the higher-intervention styles we equally love.

Situated in the Magdalena Valley where the Central and Eastern ranges of the Andes converge, Acevedo benefits from a mild climate and clay loam soils characteristic of prime Colombian coffee-growing regions. Farms operate at high elevations which create diurnal temperature variation that allows slow ripening and complex flavour compounds to develop. The combination of tropical air masses and volcanic soil creates microclimates particularly suited to coffee cultivation, contributing to Huila's reputation for producing complex, fruit-forward coffees.

Mario Fernando Gomez operates La Soledad, a farm that the Gomez family has owned since the 1960s and which achieved recognition as a Cup of Excellence finalist in 2009. The Gomez's operation reflects the broader industry trend towards quality-focused production, with Mario demonstrating the adaptability that has become essential for Colombian producers. Working through Kawa Comercio Sostenible SAS BIC, a family-run trading company recognised as a Benefit and Collective Interest company, La Soledad connects to international markets through partnerships with importers like Nordic Approach whilst maintaining the direct relationships that characterise modern Colombian coffee commerce.

La Soledad spans 22 hectares and showcases contemporary Colombian agronomy, with Mario maintaining an extensive collection of varieties including Yellow and Red Geisha, Sidra, Pink Bourbon, Orange Bourbon, Yellow Etiope, Bourbon Aji, Striped Bourbon, Caturrón, and Chiroso. This diversity allows for selective picking and variety-specific processing that enables microlot separation. 

Caturrón is a relatively new variety discovered in Huila that has yet to have a full investigation of its genetic roots - but has become quite popular for not only offering a unique profile but also being leaf rust resistant + high yielding. Ombligon (which we've heard pretty convincing arguments to be a seperate phenotype of the Papayo lineage) is an Ethiopian landrace with uniquely shaped cherries that's swiftly become reknown for its super juicy, floral and unique character.

The rub is - these varieties, especially Ombligon - are typically being put through very high intervention processing that hides the variety character. We thought this lot jumped out on the table at the recent Nordic Approach spring cupping for both the acidity and cup profile - unique, bright, structured - and we're stoked we have the ability to feature it!