Colombia
Nariño
Smallholders' Producers
Smallholders' farms
Caturra, Colombia, Castillo
Washed
2024 - 2025
Green Apple, Honey, Jasmine, juicy Mango, Pineapple, Stone Fruit
2.300 meters
N/A
70Kg W/GrainPro
EU - Hamburg, Germany - Schwarze
Blend Washed Quitupamba is composed of selected lots from the Nariño region, an area known for its dramatic mountains and the cool winds that rise through the deep canyons below. Its landscape of plateaus and steep slopes, combined with high elevations and low temperatures, allows for a slow and balanced cherry maturation.
To the north of the department of Nariño lies the rural area of Buesaco, which includes the communities of Meneses, La Esperanza, and El Cortijo. One of the defining characteristics of this zone is its altitude, ranging from 2,000 to 2,300 meters above sea level. Most of the small producers contributing to this profile grow traditional varieties such as Caturra, Castillo, and Colombia.
The Quitupamba blend comes from a region enriched by volcanic soils, abundant water sources, and fertile land—key factors that contribute to the exceptional quality for which Nariño’s coffee is renowned.
In recent years, climate change has encouraged farmers to seek more profitable crops, leading many families to adopt coffee cultivation. This shift, combined with the challenges of growing coffee in such a demanding climate, has required producers to adapt and learn how to manage a crop that for decades was almost absent in the area.
Most farms maintain forest reserves that host a great diversity of native flora and fauna. The high incidence of sunlight supports strong photosynthesis, resulting in healthy plants and dense, sugar-rich beans that define the unique character of this regional profile.
This washed process follows the same harvest and post-harvest methods that producers in the region have used for generations. During harvest, only cherries at their optimal stage of ripeness are picked. The fruit then goes through a flotation process before being stored and fermented in open tanks.
Throughout the week, the accumulated coffee mass ferments naturally, and the mucilage is removed in a single washing step using potable water. The beans are then dried using traditional solar methods, such as open patios, for about 15 days depending on the weather conditions.
Nariño is one of Colombia’s 32 Departments. It shares a southern border with Ecuador and is home to thousands of smallholder coffee producing families. Colombia’s three ranges of Andean mountains converge in Nariño, presenting ideal altitudes and fertile soil for high grown Arabica production.
Nariño’s particular geography and proximity to coastal and land borders have historically transformed it into a corridor for illicit trade routes, resulting in unwarranted violence against residents of remote mountain farms. Today, thanks to the particularly resilient and fearless spirit of Nariño’s farmers, the small region is a respected nucleus of coffee innovation.
