Colombia - La Reserva

Juan Felipe Ocampo grew up in Ciudad Bolívar, one of the main coffee regions in Antioquia. He bought this farm at the beginning of 2018 when the previous owners, due to insufficient funds from low coffee prices at the time, could no longer afford to keep it. The previous owners were traditional coffee growers and lacked knowledge about cultivating specialty coffee.

La Reserva enjoys a different climate from the main town; the high altitude makes the air fresher and less humid. However, the sun and rain patterns remain the same, creating the perfect synergy for producing high-quality specialty coffee. 

“La Reserva” is named for the nature reserve, where more than 70% of the land (340 hectares) is a protected natural reserve, home to various species, including endangered Andean bears, also known as spectacled bears. Other species thrive here as well, such as multiple species of butterflies, frogs, snakes, monkeys, and ocelots. The farm has two Manantial water sources used for all production processes without contamination. Once the water is used, it is then cleaned before returning to its source.

Caturra Chiroso is a unique coffee variety that has gained significant attention in Colombia for its exceptional qualities. This variety was first discovered in the Antioquia region, where farmers noticed its unique characteristics compared to other coffee plants. Originating from the Caturra variety, the Chiroso variety is known for its elongated beans and a flavor profile that includes bright acidity, floral notes, and a pronounced sweetness, often described as having hints of tropical fruit and jasmine. What makes Caturra Chiroso particularly special is its resilience and adaptability to the local climate and growing conditions. Despite its discovery being relatively recent, it has quickly become a favorite among coffee connoisseurs and specialty coffee producers. The variety’s ability to thrive in high altitudes and its resistance to certain diseases make it a viable and sustainable option for many farmers in Colombia.

For this lot of Caturra Chiroso, the coffee is harvested at its optimal point of ripeness and then taken to a wet mill to separate the high-quality beans from the defective ones. Subsequently, the coffee is fermented in its cherry inside bags for 36 hours, then pulped and fermented anaerobically in 200-liter sealed containers for 96 hours before being dried for approximately 8 days. 

Antioquia is perhaps Colombia’s most traditional coffee producing department, with small plots, mid-size properties, and large estates stretching up and down the steep mountains of the Western Range of the Andes that run through the department. Coffee production stretches wide through the department, beginning as soon as Medellín’s suburbs end and continuing all the way to Antioquia’s southern border with Risaralda and Caldas.

Coffee growers in Antioquia are proud “cafeteros”, where smallholders still use some traditional means like transporting coffee via mule. Many farms plant varieties developed by the Colombian Coffee Growers’ Federation (FNC), choosing varieties intended for the specific conditions of each of the country’s growing regions and adhering to standards like recommended planting densities.

But recently, Antioquia’s farmers have been branching out to implement new systems and techniques. Almost all of Colombia’s farms include a small wet mill and a drying surface, often a rooftop surface with a removable cover, for processing coffee. Antioquia’s farms are often described as “technified,” applying the latest agronomic innovations. Today, farmers diversify this technification beyond prescribed best practices suited for the whole department, instead developing their own technical improvements to make the most of their property’s attributes and produce the finest coffee possible.

Ciudad Bolívar, located in the Antioquia region, is renowned for its exceptional coffee production. The area benefits from ideal coffee-growing conditions, including altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 meters above sea level, a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures between 15°C and 28°C, and abundant rainfall.

These factors contribute to the cultivation of high-quality coffee beans with complex flavor profiles. The fertile, well-drained soils and the region’s consistent 12 hours of daylight further enhance the growth and development of coffee plants. Small-scale farmers in Ciudad Bolívar, often managing family-owned farms, utilize a mix of traditional and modern agricultural practices, ensuring meticulous care from harvest to processing.