Colombia Aponte
By A Community Of Producer Families
Tastes: Almond, nougat, raw sugar
Variety: Caturra
Region: Buesaco, Nariño
Process: Washed
Altitude: 1900-2200 m
Importer: Apex Coffee Imports
This is a coffee lover's coffee: a straightforward Colombian with nice structure.
Aponte is the leader of the Inga Aponte Indigenous Resguardo in El Tablón de Gómez, located 85 km northeast of Pasto at an altitude of around 2,050 meters. The resguardo spans 22,283 hectares of volcanic soil, primarily used for banana and coffee cultivation. In January 2003, the community began advocating for official land recognition, and on July 22 of that year, Incora granted sovereignty over the territory.
Coffee is mainly grown on small, family-owned plots, typically under one hectare, in areas such as El Páramo, El Pedregal, Aponte, and La Loma. The region’s fertile volcanic soils, equatorial climate, and abundant water from the urrounding mountains create a unique microclimate, making it ideal for coffee cultivation.
The processing begins with harvesting the cherries at their peak ripeness. In most cases, producers pulp the berries on the same day they are picked. Various fermentation methods are used, including plastic bags, airtight tanks, and open tank systems. Fermentation occurs naturally, without the addition of any external substances, preserving traditional and natural fermentation characteristics. The process continues until the producer, using their experience and by tasting the beans, determines that the desired flavours and aromas have developed. This typically takes 2 to 4 days, depending on the fermentation method. After fermentation, the beans are washed with clean water to remove any remaining mucilage and then dried on sunbeds for 20 to 25 days, depending on the weather conditions.