Finca la Fuente

Finca la Fuente is a small farm high in the mountains of Tarqui, in the department of Huila, at around 2,100 metres. Yaved Guarnizo and Yobani Ramos grow mainly Pink Bourbon and Colombia trees there, planted in among the natural forest rather than on cleared ground. Quo buys from them directly and has done so for a decade, visiting and staying on the farm over the years. The same farm also supplies Quo’s Gesha.

About the variety

Variedad Colombia was released in 1982 by Cenicafé, Colombia’s national coffee research centre. It comes from a cross between Caturra and the Timor Hybrid, and was bred to resist coffee leaf rust while keeping Caturra’s compact size and yield. It is usually planted for its disease resistance rather than its cup, so a clean, sweet lot like this one shows how much altitude and careful picking add.

About Quo Coffee

Quo is a small roastery in the old customs house by the guest harbour in Skärhamn, on Tjörn north of Gothenburg, roasting on a Loring S15 Falcon. Much of its coffee comes from producers it has worked with for around ten years, some of it bought directly as here, and it was one of the first partners in Belco’s programme to bring green coffee to Europe by sail.

Brewing it

Washed Colombians are forgiving, which makes this an easy coffee to dial in on a new brewer. Start with 15 g of coffee to 250 g of water at about 93 °C and a medium grind, aiming for a total time around 3:00. Weighing both dose and water is what makes a good cup repeatable, and a scale with a built-in timer such as the BOOKOO Themis Ultra keeps both in view while you pour. For more of the chocolate side, try it in a French press with a four minute steep.

Coffee details