Published March 2008
Gimme! Master Technician, Tomas Reyer (see slideshow), is the first person we call in an espresso equipment emergency. Recently, we gave Tomas a break from the chaos of the machine shop and cafe crises, so he could get some coffee education in the mountains of Colombia.
Cupping in Colombia
Tomas traveled with a small group of coffee experts, agronomists, roasters, and enthusiasts to see the farms of Antioquia, a state in Northeastern Colombia. The group was hosted by Cristina Garces, an expert cupper whose family has been growing coffee in the region for over 50 years. At the Villa Luz farm and nearby town of Concordia, Tomas cupped dozens of local coffees, fresh from the harvest.
Villa Luz Farm
Villa Luz sits high above a river valley, at about 5000 feet. Farmers grow and process their coffee, then carry it into Concordia on mule-back. In town, the yearly coffee harvest festival brings tourists and travelers who buy the region's many delicious coffees.
Agronomy Power
One of the first things Tomas learned was the importance of agronomy to a successful coffee farm. There are dozens of different coffee varietals in the world, each one best suited for a particular kind of soil. Coffee farmers consult agronomists to help make the best use of their land.
"It is crucial to pick the right varietal for planting and keep the agronomist involved. Variedad Colombia — introduced by the FNCC (National Federation of Coffee Farmers) for its high yield — is part Robusta, part Catuai. It ravages the soil and stops yielding after 5 years. The FNCC advised everybody to grow this, but agronomist Don Ernesto advised every farmer not to plant it. Good choice."
Farmers in the Concordia region now prefer Caturra, which produces less fruit but better quality beans.
Lights of Medellín
Tomas briefly visited Medellín, Antioquia's capital city, where the holiday celebrations were lighting up the town. From December into January, Medellín is illuminated by “Los Alumbrados,” The Festival of Lights. The city has over 2 million inhabitants, many of whom work to put together the display.
“It takes 6 months to build. The display celebrates the diversity of Colombia's landscape and people. There are mountains, desert, rainforests, prairie, and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. After the festival, the city sells the whole display to the highest bidder. This one, Japan bought.”
Why Travel?
Each year, we send a few Gimme! staff members to visit farms that produce amazing coffee. By “traveling to origin” we learn about sustainable agriculture, experience farming first-hand, and cultivate relationships with growers. Sometimes we discover a fantastic new coffee along the way. We always return home with a deeper understanding of the people and ecosystems that fill our daily cup.
Learn more about traveling to origin.