Santa Monica

By: Jairo Arcila

Washed Field Blend

 Quindío, Colombia

Variety: Caturra + Castillo
Process: Washed
Fermentation: 24-hour whole cherry fermentation in covered ceramic tanks, pulped and washed
Drying time: 10 - 12 days in raised beds
Drying temperature: 27°C Max. - 17°C Min.  
Altitude: 1500 - 1600masl
Region: Armenia, Quindio 

Jairo Arcila is a third-generation coffee producer from Quindío, Colombia. He is the father of Felipe and Carlos Arcila, the owners of Cofinet. As well as familiar farms such as Jardines del Eden.

He purchased his first coffee farm, Finca La Esmeralda in 1987, where he planted his first Caturra lot. He was fortunate enough to earn money by producing coffee, while also working full time for one of Colombia's largest coffee exporters. Using his savings, Jairo slowly managed to purchase five additional farms. First Villarazo, then Mazatlan, Santa Monica, Maracay and Buenos Aires. You can find more wonderful offerings of Jairo's coffee featured here.

This lot is from Santa Monica, the largest of Jairo's farms at 50 hectares, and is made up of Castillo and Caturra. It has volcanic soils, with ideal temperatures, altitude, and rainfall for producing consistent, high-quality coffee.

Jairo only allows the ripest coffee cherries to be harvested. He then ferments the whole cherry for 24 hours in covered ceramic tanks, prior to being pulped, gently washed and later place on raised beds until 10.5% moisture is obtained.