Arrived September 2009 in vacuum packaging within boxes, not sacks. Colombia Cup of Excellence 2009, 4th place winner. We were international jurors at this year's Cup of Excellence in Pereira, Colombia. The top twenty seven coffees, culled from hundreds, were auctioned to coffee professionals worldwide on April 23, 2009. One of our collective favorites (and Bob's top pick) was the coffee we won at the auction, Lot# 4 Finca Villa Rica, farmed by Cenen Bambague. The international jury scored this coffee 90.03 making it a recipient of a Presidential Award.  Like many entrants in the Cup of Excellence, Finca Villa Rica is an exceedingly small farm. It is only a little more than seven acres and has two full time workers with another half dozen during the harvest. Most likely, Senor Bambague entered his entire production of 20 bags into the competition. For competition winners, like Finca Villa Rica, it means considerably more income for the current season than probably ever in the past; money to send his children to high school and to purchase things for their needs. The quest for special quality in coffee, now recognized by both national and international jurors, is a source of pride for the farmer and bodes well for higher earnings in years to come.
Senor Bambague says, “This coffee farm is certified by Rainforest [Alliance]. We take care of the environment, especially the forest, the natural water of the region, the birds that wake us up every morning with their beautiful singing and give us the motivation to keep working for a sustainable coffee We manage in an integral way the coffee pulp and the organic residues that are produced on the farm; those are used later for the fertilization of the vegetable garden and for the coffee nursery. We do activities looking for the preservation and recuperation of the soil; also we use water in a rational manner." Finca Villa Rica is located at 5000 feet in the Huila region of Colombia, one of Colombia's prime growing areas. The varietal grown is 100% Caturra, grown in semi-shade. Processing is traditional, washed method with depulping done by an aqua pulping machine that uses minimal water and is better for the environment. Drying is completed in the sun on patios. | | Cenen Bambague and family | Flordeli and Cenen Bambague, growers |
Quantity is very limited.
Cup Characteristics: The jury, which included us, described Finca Villa Rica as follows: Flavor/Aroma: Jasmine, orange, mango, black cherry, dried apricot, lemon, sugar cane, dark chocolate, mace, sweet cinnamon; Acidity- Citric, complex fruit, red apple tartaric, crisp, lively. Other notes- very clean long pleasant after taste, very balanced, sweet finish. Roasting Notes: In our opinion piquant, layered coffees such as this benefit from City + roasts, meaning in most cases first crack plus about 30 to 45 seconds depending on your roaster. At most, pull at the initial onset of second crack. Roasting darker than suggested will mute much of what this fine coffee has to offer. 
| Volume Price |
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| Pounds | Price LB |
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| 1 | $13.31 | | 2+ | $12.78 |
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