This coffee comes from family-owned farms located in the municipality of La Unión, in northern Nariño, one of Colombia’s most recognized specialty coffee origins. Grown between 1,600 and 1,900 meters above sea level, the coffee benefits from fertile volcanic soils, good drainage, and the diverse microclimatic conditions created by the surrounding mountain ranges, including the Cerro de Reyes area. These environmental conditions contribute to the production of dense, high-quality beans and support the development of distinctive regional cup profiles.
The farms are managed by coffee-growing families who have cultivated coffee for generations and maintain diversified production systems where coffee grows alongside plantain, avocado, citrus trees, cassava and other crops. This diversification not only provides additional sources of income and food security but also contributes to shade management, farm resilience and landscape biodiversity.
The predominant varieties cultivated are Castillo and Colombia, selected for their adaptation to local growing conditions, productivity and disease resistance. Throughout the year, producers dedicate significant effort to farm maintenance, including fertilization programs, weed management and crop renovation practices aimed at preserving both yield and coffee quality.
Harvesting takes place during the main crop season, generally between April and July, when cherries are selectively handpicked at optimal ripeness. The coffee is processed on each farm using a traditional washed method. Following pulping, the coffee undergoes approximately 8 to 12 hours of fermentation before being fully washed. Density selection is carried out through water channels and flotation systems, helping producers separate immature or lower-density beans before drying.
Drying is carefully managed using a combination of patio drying and mechanical dryers over a period of approximately five to seven days, depending on climatic conditions. This approach allows producers to maintain consistency while protecting the physical quality and stability of the coffee during post-harvest processing.
The coffee is marketed through COOMERCIACAFÉ, a producer cooperative established in 2003 in La Unión, Nariño. The cooperative works with coffee-growing families across the region, implementing traceability systems, physical and sensory quality controls, moisture analysis and lot identification protocols that allow each coffee to be linked back to its farm of origin. Through this structure, producers gain access to specialty markets while roasters benefit from increased transparency, consistency and direct connection to the communities behind the coffee.
