Colombia El Diamante - Neftali Castro (Espresso)

Tastes Like: Rich and sweet, with cola-like acidity and a syrupy body. Ripe berries and dark chocolate, with florals on the finish.

This coffee was grown and processed by Neftalí Castro on his family’s farm, El Diamante (which translates to “the diamond” in Spanish), located near the town and municipality of Cajamarca, in the state of Tolima, Colombia. The 30 hectare property is owned and managed by Neftali and his sisters, who are the third generation to run the farm. When the farm was first established, the family planted plantain, green beans, potatoes and a local root vegetable called arrachacha. They also kept a small plot of Typica trees, but coffee was neither a priority nor an important source of income.

This changed in 2008, when Neftalí, the youngest of the siblings, decided to return to his family farm and take over its management, after many years working as a mechanic in Tolima’s capital, Ibagué. From the outset, his focus was on coffee production. During an inspiring visit to the renowned coffee producing region of Pitalito, Huila, he had recognised the potential of coffee and, from that point forward, was determined to pursue the social benefits of the crop for himself and his family.

Neftalí expanded the land dedicated to coffee by planting a further eight hectares of the Caturra variety. He established careful farming practices and built a small beneficio (wet mill) and drying sheds to process his crop. His efforts were rewarded when he placed 29^th in 2009’s COE auction, then again in 2011 when he achieved an incredible 3^rd place in the competition.

REGION: Tolima, Cajamarca
FARM: El Diamante
ELEVATION: 1730 MASL

VARIETY: Caturra, Tabi
PROCESSING: Washed
FARMER: Neftali Castro