Colombia Finca El Chupadero

About Colombia Finca El Chupadero

This small lot arrived in March 2024, new crop, in grainpro.  It is now the third year we are offering this coffee, though each time we came to discover it through blind cupping, a testament to the ongoing quality output of the farm. The arrival of coffees from Narino are exciting, usually offering some of the best Colombia has to offer.

The producer Fernando Martinez has a long history with coffee. He started working on coffee farms after finishing primary school, learning the necessary skills from his father. He now lives at El Chupadero with his wife, Daisy. Over the last 20 years they have been managing and improving the farm. Currently, Fernando is budgeting to add a warehouse area at the farm for increased storage and more controlled conditions. Our importer has been working with Fernando for several years and the income from his quality small lots has further enabled him to upgrade his drying facility and wetmill.

Narino is a department (state) in western Colombia and directly borders Ecuador to its south and the Pacific Ocean to its west. The Andes mountain chain starting in southern Chile and Argentina, cuts across Ecuador and enters Colombia in Narino, then proceeds northerly through all of the country. Narino is close to the equator, nearly 0 degrees latitude so the number of hours of sunlight is consistent all year long, each day 12 hours of light. Coffee from this region has significant acidity (liveliness), medium body, and clean, sweet flavors when properly harvested and processed. El Chupadero produces coffee at 2050 meters (6725 feet) because of its position near the equator. Coffee here can be produced up to 2300 meters without great concern of frost. Coffees grown at very high altitudes tend to have smaller beans with more concentrated flavors. In cooler, high mountain temperatures, Arabica coffee plants have slower metabolisms and creating more proteins and sugars. Indeed, this coffee is very sweet.

The word Chupadero translates to a pacifier or teething ring so we suspect coffee growing is a calming influence on the Martinez family.

• Country: Colombia
• Farm: El Chupadero
• Producer: Fernando Martinez
• Region: Narino
• Municipality: La Union
• Altitude: 2050 Meters
• Varietal: Colombia, Castillo
• Process: Washed, sun dried
• Harvest Season: 2020 Harvest

Cup Characteristics: Aromas of cedar, nougat and roasted almonds. Flavors of juicy cherry, cola, stone fruit, dried apricot, apple pie, hazelnut and milk chocolate,. Bright and sweet. Full bodied, balanced, juicy, sweet, bright and classy.

Roasting Notes: Due to the high altitude that this coffee is grown at the beans are small and dense. To showcase the flavor profile we recommend pulling before second crack, but the bean is durable enough to withstand a darker roast if desired.