Colombia Villa Betulia Primitivo - Rare/Exclusive Filter

Colombia Villa Betulia Primitivo - Rare/Exclusive Filter

 This is the 5th time we have had coffee from Luis's farm and this is another amazing example of how well Luis and his team grow and produce outstanding coffees!

This is a super complex coffee with loads of tropical fruits, full body, super sweet with vibrant & juicy acidity,

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• Producers + Mill:

Luis Aníbal Calderón is one of the finest producers we work with at Cofinet. Luis is a 2nd generation coffee farmer and has been working in this field for over 40 years now. But it hasn't always been plane sailing for Luis.

Back in 2011, Luis was at serious risk of losing his farm to the bank. At that point, he was mainly selling his coffee on the C-market and the price he was receiving was barely enough to cover the cost of production, let alone repay the loan he had taken out to purchase land to extend the size of his coffee farm. It was at this point Luis approached his local town's Specialty Coffee Association. They were willing to pay 15% above the C-price, not enough to truly reward Luis for the extra effort required to produce specialty grade coffee but enough to sustain Luis and drive him to explore this avenue of the industry further. As a result, in 2012 he planted 5,000 Gesha trees and after waiting an arduous three years for the trees to bear fruit, Luis was converted.

In 2015, Luis decided to embark on the mission to convert his entire farm to exotic coffee varieties. Now, more than five years since that decision, Luis's farm Finca Villa Betulia is a beacon for specialty coffee production in Acevedo, Huila. On his farms you will find all sorts of exotic varieties including Red Gesha, Tabi, Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Java, Sidra, Striped Bourbon, Chilli Bourbon, Caturra, Typica, Maragogype, Pacamara, Marageisha, Pink Bourbon, Papayo, Caturron, Liberica, Variedad Colombia, Castillo, Red Leaf, Red Bourbon, Dwarf Gesha, Pink Gesha, Yellow Gesha, Wush Wush, Dwarf Yellow Bourbon, Mokka and Maracaturra.

Luis, along with the assistance of Cofinet, has worked to improve his processing methods for high-end micro-lots. He is now a master in many processing methods such as Extended Fermentation, Honeys and Naturals.

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• Varieties:

The Bourbon Primitivo variety is an exotic cultivar believed to have its genetic roots in Ethiopia. Years ago, these rare seeds arrived in the Huila region of Colombia, but it was the visionary producer Luis Aníbal Calderón who successfully cultivated and mastered the plant's unique behavior.

After years of meticulous monitoring and experimentation at his farm, the results have proven extraordinary. The variety is physically distinct: the cherries are notably elongated and feature a characteristic 'belly button' shape at the base of the fruit. Today, the success of this variety has reached beyond Huila. Cultivation has expanded into regions like Quindío, where several of our start producers have embraced the challenge. They
are now witnessing incredible results, reporting exceptional cup quality and robust yields that highlight the Primitivo's remarkable adaptability to the Colombian coffee axis.

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• Process:

Luis Aníbal, along with his team of pickers, harvests only the ripest cherries. Then, the cherries are placed in the sorting area at Villa Betulia farm, where the sorting team hand-sorts and floats them to remove any low-density, underripe, or defective cherries. Afterwards, cherries are exposed to 45-hour aerobic fermentation. This controlled fermentation carried by Luis Anibal, follows the Cofinet’s protocol, This method highlights the intrinsic flavors of the coffee, resulting in a cup that is rich, delicate, and deeply connected to its origin.

Once the fermentation stage is completed, the cherries are transferred to parabolic dryers located on the roof of Luis Aníbal’s house. Here, they are spread evenly in thin layers to ensure consistent airflow and exposure to sunlight. The cherries are carefully monitored and turned regularly to achieve uniform drying and to prevent over-fermentation or mold.

The drying process can take between 10 to 15 days, during which the sugars and flavors from the fruit slowly permeate the beans. This creates a unique profile characterized by intense fruitiness, sweetness, and a full-bodied. We aim for a moisture content of 9.5%-11%, which is the perfect point for us.

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• Region: Huila
• Producer: Luis Anibal Calderon
• Farm: Villa Betulia
• Importer: Cofinet
• Price (green ex Shipping): £28 p kg

• Variety: Primitivo
• Process: Extended Fermentation Natural process
• Altitude: 1500-1600masl
• Amount Bought: 24kg
• Tasting: Tropical, Complex, Full body, super sweet, Juicy acidity,
• Flavours like: Cherry Cola, Papaya, Acai