Espresso - Bellavista, Colombia

This coffee was produced by Zulieth Sancho Masabuel on her small farm, Bellavista, near San José in Cauca, Colombia. At just two hectares, Bellavista sits at 1,850 meters above sea level in the steep hills surrounding San José. Zulieth, daughter of coffee producer Luz Mila Masabuel, represents the next generation of the Masabuel family, which has been a key part of the local coffee community for over 30 years. Zulieth is studying business administration in Neiva. Each weekend, she travels back to manage the farm, which is primarily planted with the Castillo hybrid variety. This variety, introduced by Colombia's Coffee Federation in the 1980s, is resistant to coffee leaf rust while maintaining quality. Zulieth, like her parents, uses traditional farming methods with minimal pesticide use, relying on manual labor for tasks like weeding and fertilizing. The rich, volcanic soil and cool temperatures around San José contribute to the coffee’s sweetness and complexity.

The coffee was selectively hand-harvested. It was processed using the washed method at the farm. The coffee was pulped using an electric pulper and then placed into a washing tank, where it was fermented without water for around 24 hours and then washed using clean water. The coffee was then carefully dried over 10–18 days on parabolic beds. The greenhouses are constructed out of plastic sheets and have adjustable walls to help with airflow, and temperature control to ensure the coffee can dry slowly and evenly.