Alto del Obispo San Agustin Huila
Whilst Huila is naturally blessed with optimal coffee growing geography, the key to great quality coffees from the areas around San Agustin (such as this lot) are the growers themselves. Coffee farming within the region is overwhelmingly small-scale. Indeed, approximately 80% of producers from the region farm coffee on less than 3 hectares of land. These small farms are tended by individual families with labour only rarely being contracted out, which leads to more thorough and intensive management practices and great pride in the final product – which is, itself, an extension of the family.
- Farm Alto del Obispo
- Varietal Colombia & Castillo
- Process Fully washed
- Altitude 1,300 to 1,950 metres above sea level
- Town / City Alto del Obispo, San Agustin
- Region Huila
- Owner Various smallholder producers
- Tasting Notes Citrus, green apple, maple syrup
- Farm Size Less than 5 hectares on average
Colombia is the third largest coffee-producing country in the world, and thanks to its vast array of unique microclimate, are able to have harvests throughout the year.
Commercial coffee cultivation began in the mid-1830s and spread so rapidly that throughout the twentieth century coffee already became the country’s leading export. A mountainous topography and many tropical micro-climates contribute greatly to Colombia’s reputation for ideal growing conditions, which – in turn – have helped Colombia establish itself as a recognisable origin around the world.
The diversity of coffee and profiles found across Colombia is enormous and coffee is harvested practically year-round depending on the region. The main harvest takes place from October to February with November and December being the peak months. There is also a second fly (or ‘mitaca’) crop several months later, again varying by region and microclimate.