Colombia La Plata

La Plata's town center, situated at an elevation of 1,100 meters above sea level, serves as a vibrant economic hub for the surrounding rural areas. The town is typically bustling with activity as producers bring their yields to one of the many purchasing points. The roads from the town center to the farms of Pergamino's producing partners are long and steep, climbing in altitude and dropping in temperature along the way.

Most producers in the area manage small plots, ranging from a few thousand trees to 2-3 hectares with up to 15,000 trees. Many continue to cultivate Caturra, a coffee variety that thrives in the cooler climate, allowing them to manage it without the adverse effects of coffee leaf rust (roya) seen elsewhere.

Pergamino has been active in this region for the past seven years. Initially collaborating through small cooperatives, they have worked directly with producers in various sub-municipalities of La Plata since 2019. This regional blend results from carefully selected deliveries from these producers.

Coffee processing in this region follows traditional methods. Growers, often assisted by their families or local community, pick the coffee. The coffee is typically depulped at night and left to ferment in concrete tanks. To optimize time, farmers blend coffee from 3-4 days of picking in the fermentation tanks before washing, as washing small amounts is challenging. This process often leads to longer fermentation times, resulting in more complex and sweet cups. Finally, the coffee is fully washed and dried on raised beds under plastic covers.