Colombia La Esperanza Caturra Washed

William Buitrago and Aminta Mahocha Franco produced this micro-lot on their 11-hectare farm, La Esperanza, located near the small community of China Alta in Tolima state, Colombia.

Finca La Esperanza sits at an altitude of 1,960 meters above sea level in the steep, rugged hills surrounding Tolima's capital city. The China Alta region is named after the Rio La China. This small and beautiful river meanders through the mountains and eventually flows into the Rio Magdelena, Colombia's main river. Alta refers to the area's higher elevations, where the sweetest and most refined coffees are grown and harvested. The farm sits on the steep valley walls of Rio La China, which is used as a water source to irrigate and process the coffee.

William's family moved to China Alta in the 1970s to farm cattle, and William was born and raised nearby. In 1994, he and Aminta established La Esperanza across the valley from his parent's home. Initially, the couple farmed cattle, but in recent years, they have shifted their focus to specialty coffee production as it has become more viable and profitable. The farm is 11 hectares large, with five hectares planted with Caturra and Colombia trees. The trees are planted further apart than usual (just 4,000-5,000 per hectare instead of the usual 6,000), allowing adequate sunshine to reach them despite the cooler temperatures of China Alta. Although this affects his overall yield, William's commitment to high-quality production has driven this decision. When praised for his coffee's excellent cup quality, William shares, "This is a great motivation. It's one thing to get premiums, but another to get recognition from a part of the world so far away."

William and Aminta have gifted each of their children, Mauricio and Geraldina, a plot of land on the family farm to manage and profit from to encourage them to understand the economics of farming coffee and potentially see a future in it. William identifies labour as a challenge in this region, as many younger generations are moving to the city and abandoning coffee production. He hopes specialty programs will develop and grow, as higher premiums are a more attractive incentive for young people to stay in China Alta and continue producing coffee.

Outside of coffee, William is an avid apiarist and keeps over 30 beehives on the farm, producing around a ton of honey annually, which he sells in the local market. During a farm visit, we were proudly shown a small colony of tiny, native Meliponini bees that he had harvested from the coffee plants and relocated to the outer wall of the farmhouse. These tiny bees produce very little honey but are kept by the family as a hobby. According to William, the bees and the coffee are very connected, with the bees pollinating the coffee trees and the coffee blossoms contributing to the clear and sweet quality of the honey.

• Origin: Colombia
• Region: China Alta, Tolima
• Farm/Coop/Mill: La Esperanza
• Producer: William Buitrago
• Variety: Caturra
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1,960masl

• Roast Level: Light
• Aroma(8/10): 
• Sweetness(8/10): 
• Flavour(8.5/10):
• Aftertaste(8/10):
• Acidity(8.5/10): 
• Mouthfeel/Body(8/10): 
• Balance & Overall(8.5/10): 

• Espresso: 20g In, 40g Out, 27 Seconds
• Milk-based (150ml): 21g In, 42g Out, 30 Seconds, 150g Milk
• Filter: 15g In, 225g Out, 2 Minute 00 Seconds (45G Bloom, 30 Seconds)
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