This month we are sharing two examples of the fast moving coffee growing community of Colombia, both grown by Javier Rubio. 

Javier grows coffee in Southern Tolima, near to the border with Huila. Colombia’s coffee production has both shaped and been shaped by the speciality coffee movement; populated by agile and empowered producers with easy access to market, many growing coffee on newly planted small farms with fertile soils.

Coffees grown in Colombia are highly prized in our industry for several reasons. The mountainous terrain provides high altitudes and varying microclimates, leading to a diverse flavour spectrum throughout the area. 

Diversity is also encouraged by the large number of small farms, with those averaging between 1 and 3 hectares producing much of the coffee in the region.

The small farms here mainly have their own processing facilities, both wet mills, where the coffee is pulped, fermented and washed, and space for drying the coffees.


This month

San Bernardo is a natural dwarf mutation of Typica, discovered in Huila. The varietal produces high quality cups with high flavour clarity.

This washed lot showcases the floral and intense cup profile of San Bernardo, with sugar cane, lemon and black tea in the cup.

Coffee no. 1

This natural lot showcases Javier’s expertise in processing. Here, the processing enhances the complexity of the cup with stewed stone fruit, hibiscus and red currant in the cup. 

Coffee no. 2
The Andes split into 3 distinct ranges here, the eastern, western and central ‘cordilleras’. This high altitude leads to large day-night swings in temperature, which slows cherry maturation. The generally small farms, and direct access to market, also leads to a key feature of Colombia’s industry; its agility.

The structures put in place by the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC) starting as far back as the 1930’s mean that individual farmers here have an access to the market not seen in many other countries in the coffee belt.

Information on farming and processing techniques is readily available, and the dry-milling and export system in Colombia has been built from the ground up to deal with micro-lots, down to the work of one single farmer.

Coffee production here bas both shaped and been shaped by the speciality coffee movement; empowered producers with access to market, growing coffee on small farms with fertile soils and ideal conditions.

Colombia is and will continue to be one of the world’s most exciting countries for speciality coffee. Colombia produces a huge volume of coffee; second only to Brazil, and far ahead of Ethiopia. The potential for quality is immense, and the population at large feel a genuine pride in their coffee growing heritage.


Javier Rubio

Javier Rubio is one such example, having come from a multi-generational coffee family. He purchased his own small farm, El Libano, in the mid-90’s, and set about producing the finest quality coffee

He started with more traditional varietals like Caturra and Variedad Colombia, and worked together with his family to chase quality. This culminated in 2008, with a third place in the Cup of Excellence. 

Still not satisfied, Javier searched out exotic seeds together with neighbours and friends, capitalising on the speciality wave sweeping over the region. He planted Tabi, Geisha and San Bernardo.


COLOMBIA, BY PAW GISSEL

Paw has been a part of La Cabra since the start. He is an educated photojournalist, and has travelled extensively in search of captivating stories. 

Now working mainly with fashion and commercial photography, Paw still joins us on many of our travels, and has been a huge inspiration for La Cabra’s visual language. 

Follow the link below for the full length feature, where he shares some of the highlights from his travels in Colombia through words and images.


View full feature