A deep dive into Colombian specialty coffee: Castillo and Colombia varieties
Traceability
Producer: FUDAM Coffee Association
Country of origin: Colombia/ Nariño/ La Unión
Altitude: 1700m – 1980 m
Varieties: Castillo, Colombia
Processing method: Washed
Main harvest: May-August
Mitaca: November-December
Farm Management
Proper maintenance is essential to ensure high-quality and sustainable coffee production in the long term. One of the fundamental activities is controlling the vegetation that competes with coffee trees for nutrients, water, and sunlight by weeding every three to four months with a weed wacker or machete, leaving vegetation that does not compete with the coffee trees and that helps them, maintaining soil health and biodiversity.
Another important practice is pruning, which helps improve airflow within the coffee plantation, as well as stimulates the growth of new productive branches by removing old, diseased, or unproductive ones. Additionally, when coffee plantations are well-pruned, it facilitates the movement of workers, allowing them to harvest more efficiently, which leads to increased production.
Incorporating complementary crops into coffee plantations is also a valuable technique for maintaining the health and productivity of the farm. The most common crops are corn, avocado, citrus fruits, legumes, and yucca. These crops serve various purposes, such as providing shade, attracting pollinators, protecting the coffee plantation from strong winds, and helping to fix nitrogen in the soil. They also serve as a food source for farmers, as well as an additional source of income from their sale. The leaves, fruits, and other plant debris that fall to the ground provide nutrients for the coffee trees, naturally improving soil fertility.
Fertilization
The coffee plantations are fertilized 4 to 5 times a year with organic fertilizer produced by the farms and the association, which is rich in essential macro and micronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. By using this type of fertilizer, coffee producers not only enrich the soil but also stimulate the activity of beneficial microorganisms, which contributes to improving the overall health of the soil. Organic fertilizers are applied several times a year and, unlike chemical fertilizers that release nutrients quickly, organic fertilizers release them slowly over time, providing a stable and sustained supply of nutrients to the plants.
Harvest
The main harvest takes place from May to August, and the mitaca, a smaller, secondary harvest, occurs from November to December. During both periods, coffee cherries are harvested every two weeks when they are fully ripe and have a deep red color. At the end of each harvest day, the coffee cherries undergo a sorting process called "barceo." This process involves floating the coffee in water, separating the ripe, dense coffee cherries that sink to the bottom from the unripe or defective ones that float to the top. This selection process ensures that only the best coffee cherries are chosen for further processing.
Fermentation
The coffee cherries are fermented in wooden hoppers, bags, or plastic tanks for up to 18 hours, after which they are depulped and fermented again in plastic or concrete tanks for another 24 hours. On colder days, fermentation can take up to 48 hours. Finally, the beans are washed three times.
Infrastructure management and maintenance
Pulpers, concrete or plastic tanks, patios, parabolic solar dryers.
Drying method
The beans are dried on patios or in parabolic solar dryers for 10 to 15 days, depending on the weather conditions. During this time, the beans are moved 3 to 4 times a day.
Storage Method
To stabilize the coffee, the beans are packed in burlap bags, placed on wooden pallets, and stored for 15 days in a ventilated storage room.
History of FUDAM
FUDAM (Fundación Agraria y Ambiental Para el Desarrollo Sostenible) is an organization located in Nariño, Colombia, known for its commitment to sustainable and organic agricultural practices.
FUDAM was founded in 2000 by seven small-scale producers and has since grown to include over 300 members. The association focuses on environmental conservation, supporting women in the coffee industry, and involving younger generations in sustainable agriculture. FUDAM’s dedication to environmental protection includes the creation of natural alternatives and the use of conservation practices, which has earned them Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance/UTZ certifications.
FUDAM supports its female members not only with technical knowledge but also by promoting their participation in the regional coffee industry. By collaborating with its partners, FUDAM ensures that coffee produced by women farmers receives fair prices and additional monetary incentives, thereby empowering women in the industry.
The association strives to implement the best organic practices among its members. Despite the fact that these techniques are labor-intensive and can result in lower coffee yields, FUDAM is dedicated to protecting the environment, their families, and ensuring the health of customers worldwide.
About Colombian Coffee Varieties
Developed by the National Coffee Research Center (CENICAFE) by combining Caturra and Timor hybrids, the Colombia variety is known for its high yields and rust resistance. This process of genetic improvement, which began at the end of the 1960s and was launched in 1980, aimed to obtain coffee resistant to rust, a disease that affects coffee trees in Colombia.
Since then, the Colombia variety has been widely planted in the country, representing 27% of the national planted area.
In terms of tree shape, the Colombia variety is similar to Caturra, with a low growth habit and short, compact internodes, making it easy to handle and harvest. This characteristic allows for higher planting densities and efficient use of available space.
Castillo Coffee Variety Information
Castillo coffee is a coffee variety created in Colombia thanks to a genetic improvement research program that lasted more than 30 years. This program was developed by the National Coffee Research Center (CENICAFE) with the aim of producing a variety resistant to rust, a disease that severely affects coffee trees. Since its official launch in 2005, Castillo coffee has played a significant role in the Colombian coffee industry.
Castillo coffee is cultivated throughout Colombia, mainly in the regions of Eje Cafetero, Nariño, Huila, and Cauca, representing approximately 80% of the annual production in the department of Cauca. Its adaptability to various altitudes, ranging from 800 to 2000 meters above sea level, results in a wide range of flavor profiles and distinctive characteristics.
Castillo coffee trees are medium to low growing and produce large, oval, and elongated beans. Young leaves are bronze or green, and the beans have a shallow furrow and groove. During harvest season, Castillo trees yield an average of 400 grams of parchment coffee, although in exceptional cases, they can produce up to 1 kilogram.
