Tropical updrafts from the deep Cauca River valley (alt. 500m) generate a micro-climate benefitting the high-altitude coffee fields of Giraldo. Along the narrow unpaved road high on the mountain slope of the sub-divisions La Sierrita and La Sierra of Giraldo a group of 72 coffee families have united to produce an excellent highland coffee. For several years, they have worked to standardize their processes of manual selection, fermentation and drying, using the most rigorous traditional methods. This has resulted in a very consistent coffee of a very high quality all year round.

Life has improved significantly for this group of farmers since they united 10 years ago, all have been able to modernize their washing stations, have increased their drying capacity and many have been able to grow their plantations. But still there’s a lot of development to do. We are proud to support this group by always paying a bonus on top of the standard price. This helps them to pay for workshops, training, but also education for their children. We often purchase high quality micro-lots from individual members providing even higher margins that help them increase their businesses.

The association Productores de Café Exótico de Altura consists of 80 families. Their farms, which are all small to very small cover about 300 acres (140 Ha.) of rich tropical soils at 1750 -2100 mts. altitude. The farmers of Café Exótico de Altura produce a prizewinning coffee with a delicate flavor containing notes of milk chocolate, caramel and light red fruits. A balanced acidity combines nicely with a medium, but smooth body. It’s a beautiful all-round coffee that will produce a wonderful espresso as well as a pour over. A very strong coffee in the “Classic” assortment, each 6 months we receive a new batch making this a dependable coffee for any roasters fixed assortment.

Many producers of the group have won prizes in recent years. One of them reached first place in the Cup of Antioquia last year. And several were finalists in the Cup of Excellence of Colombia.