1600 Estate takes its name from its altitude, located between 1,600 and 1,700 meters in the heart of the Tulipe region, in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador. Located northwest of Quito, the Farm operates in a subtropical cloud forest environment, characterized by constant humidity, moderate temperatures, and conditions particularly favorable for cultivating high-altitude coffees.
Developed starting in 2010 on former cattle ranching land, the Café 1600 project is led by Mateo Patiño, Gilda Carrascal, Andy Davalos, and their families. The Farm has benefited from the outset from the advice of Arnaud Causse, a recognized Producer in the region and today Director of Transition at Belco.
On the Farm, different varieties adapted to the high-altitude conditions and humid climate of the region are cultivated, including Bourbon, Pacamara, Caturra, and Java. The Producers work with particular attention to the renewal of the Plots and production consistency, notably through their own nursery and progressive replanting carried out annually.
The daily operations of the Farm are managed by Segundo Simbaña, who has been supervising the on-site work for several years alongside the Producers. Together, they develop an approach based on continuous improvement, field observation, and constant adaptation to the climatic constraints of this humid Andean region.
