La Esperanza

Deep within the lush landscapes of the southern part of Huila region, Palestina area, lies La Esperanza, a coffee farm embodying the spirit of Colombian coffee culture. Señor Rafael Alfonso Mateus, a fourth-generation coffee grower, tends to the picturesque La Esperanza farm, a 15-hectare property. This land, inherited from his father, is a testament to the family’s deep-rooted coffee tradition.

Of the farm’s total area, 3 hectares are dedicated to coffee cultivation, while 4 hectares are proudly maintained as a nature reserve. Rafael takes great care of this protected area, recognizing its importance for biodiversity and as a vital water source.

La Esperanza primarily produces traditional coffee varieties, but Rafael also experiments with exotic ones like Bourbon Chiroso, Pink Bourbon and Tabi. The farm is divided into distinct lots, each contributing to the overall quality of the harvest.

The show’s star is the Chiroso lot. Bourbon Chiroso is still a relatively rare variety grown in Colombia. It gets its name from the shape of the cherries, which are long-shaped. When we asked the growers why it has this name, they told us that “Chiroso is a slang word in rural Colombia for something slightly elongated. It’s not a very common word, but because of the variety’s
elongated beans, producers gave it that name.

Some studies show that it is genetically linked to Ethiopian landrace varieties (still to be scientifically verified). Chiroso stands for its sweet and complex flavor profiles. It has a silky mouthfeel, lots of floral notes (similar to Gesha, just a bit more herbal), and a great balance of citric acid and sweetness. It is an amazing cup of coffee known for its elegance and complexity. Chiroso Imperial is a name for cup profile, that is reflection of the variety, careful cultivation, environmental richness, microclimate condition and careful post-harvest practices in the area.

Besides coffee, they cultivate corn, beans, fruits, and avocados for their own consumption and to improve their income. During harvest season, he employs 24 workers from neighbouring areas, fostering a sense of community and providing local employment.

Rafael’s commitment to quality and innovation led him to join the Grupo de Asociación Palestina in 2015. This collective, comprising eight partners and 50 coffee-growing families in the area, cultivates coffee across 200 hectares. The group collaborates with InConexus to enhance their knowledge through training, improve water management, and upgrade
infrastructure and innovation (variety or processing)– all contributing to elevating their coffee quality.

Looking to the future, Rafael aims to continually improve the quality and consistency of his coffee’s cup profile. His dedication to both tradition and innovation ensures that La Esperanza will continue to produce exceptional coffees for years to come.

50-50 Program

This coffee is sourced in partnership with InConexus.

The “50-50” label is ROAST’s signature branded coffee that guarantees the farmers 50% of the retail price. The “50-50” label raises the bar for sustainability guaranteeing the farmers 50% of the retail price*.

* After sales taxes and duties. All costs in the origin country and transportation costs to the roastery (including taxes, duties, commissions etc.) are covered by the farmers. Smaller parts of the farmer payments may be given as donations to projects and organisations to help educate farmers etc.