COLOMBIA Luis Calderon

About This Coffee

Luis Calderon, a distinguished Huila Best Cup 2016 top 30 finalist, inherited a profound passion for coffee cultivation from his father. His journey began with a modest lot, a heartfelt gift from his father, which ignited his ambition to continually expand his farm and refine his processing techniques. This dedication has profoundly transformed his life and that of his family. Coffee cultivation is more than just a livelihood for Luis; it's a way of life that fosters strong familial bonds. He and his family operate as a cohesive team, working in harmony to manage the farm. Their meticulous approach to coffee production is evident in every step. Luis personally ensures that only the ripest coffee cherries are hand-picked, a crucial first step in achieving exceptional quality. Following the careful harvest, the cherries undergo a precise dry fermentation process for 25 hours. This controlled fermentation is key to developing the unique flavor profiles for which Luis's coffee is renowned. After fermentation, the coffee is then moved to his parabolic dryer, where it spends an average of 25 days. This extended and controlled drying period, utilizing the natural warmth of the sun within a protective structure, ensures optimal moisture content and further enhances the coffee's inherent characteristics, resulting in a cup of remarkable quality and complexity. Released in 2005, Castillo variety is a hybrid cross developed by Cenicafe, the scientific research arm of Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers. It was created to replace the Colombia variety, which had lost its resistance to coffee leaf rust.