Traceability Project

Colombia

Washed Pink Bourbon – Finca El Pedregal (lot 1)

Department: Cauca

Municipality: Inzá

Producer: Finca El Pedregal, Neftalí Fajardo

Altitude: 1950 m

Harvest: October to December

Soil: volcanic

Varietal: Pink Bourbon

Process: Washed, with double fermentation (32h)

Drying: Sun-dried on raised patios

Washed Process

The harvested coffee cherries are first selected, either mechanically or in water tanks, to remove unripe cherries and other foreign matter. They are then processed with depulpers to remove the skin (exocarp) and pulp (outer mesocarp).

With a portion of the mucilage (inner mesocarp) left on the parchment (endocarp), the coffee beans are fermented in water tanks for around 14 to 36 hours. During this time, the microorganisms in the beans help break down the mucilage with their enzymes.

The beans are then washed with fresh water and laid to dry on either cement patios or raised beds, or in some cases placed in mechanical dryers. They are turned regularly to avoid unwanted mold and further fermentation, and when the beans reach around 11% humidity they are stored in parchment (endocarp), before being milled and bagged.

Finca El Pedregal

Led by Neftalí Fajardo, Finca El Pedregal is situated in Inzá, in Colombia’s Cauca department – part of the Macizo Colombiano, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of exceptional natural richness.

Neftalí Fajardo is a coffee producer from Cauca, known for his focus on specialty coffees. Growing up surrounded by coffee farms, he developed a passion for high-quality beans and perfected his craft through years of dedication. Today, Neftali’s specialty coffees are celebrated for their unique flavors and exceptional quality, reflecting his deep connection to the land and his commitment to excellence.

The process begins with the selective picking of only fully ripe cherries, sorted by flotation. A manual selection follows, along with a first fermentation of 16 hours with the whole cherries intact. After pulping, a second fermentation of a further 16 hours takes place, before a triple wash and natural sun-drying on patios complete the process.