Juicy berry fruits and red grape acidity with soft vanilla and florals.

Luis Anibal Calderon’s specialty coffee, grown at his Villa Betulia farm, is a triumph of persistence and passion. His journey, from the brink of closure to a beacon of exotic coffee varietals (including this Yirgacheffe), is a testament to his commitment.

Yirgacheffe is the most famous coffee region in Ethiopia. While we’re not entirely sure how Luis got his hands on this variety, we’re certainly glad he did. It displays all the characteristics of an Ethiopian-grown coffee, enhanced by the expert processing skills of one of Colombia’s finest producers.

In 2011, Luis faced the possibility of losing his farm to foreclosure. His main income source was selling coffee on the C-market, where the prices barely covered production costs and loan repayments for the land he had purchased to expand his farm. In search of a solution, Luis turned to his local Specialty Coffee Association.

Although their offer to pay 15% above the C-price didn’t fully reflect the extra effort needed to produce specialty-grade coffee, it was enough to sustain him and sparked his interest in the specialty coffee sector. Motivated, Luis planted 5,000 Geisha trees in 2012. After a long three-year wait for the trees to fruit, he became a firm believer in the specialty coffee world.

In 2015, Luis set out to convert his entire farm to exotic coffee varieties. More than half a decade later, his farm, Finca Villa Betulia, has become a model for specialty coffee production in Acevedo, Huila. He now grows a range of exotic coffees, including Red Gesha, Sidra, Wish Wush, Chilli Bourbon, and of course, this standout Yirgacheffe!

Luis selects only the ripest cherries for this coffee. After keeping them in an oxygen-rich environment for a day, the cherries undergo a closely monitored washed process.