GESHA SUNFLOWER

LA FORET COFFEE - COLOMBIA GESHA - FINCA SUNFLOWER - ROBINSON ORTIZ - MEDIUM ROAST - 89 SCA SCORE POINT - SPECIALTY COFFEE - SINGLE ORIGIN - QUINDIO, COLOMBIA - NOTES: SUGAR CANE, WHITE FLOWERS, LEMONGRASS, GREEN TEE, GREEN APPLE, CARAMEL, GINGER - 250G - 8.8 OZ

FAITH, PASSION AND CURIOSITY: THE SECRETS OF AN EXTRAORDINARY PROJECT

Let me take you to the majestic mountains of Génova Quindio, one of the most remote corners of the coffee region. In this mountainous land, with steep, coffee-covered slopes, Robinson Diaz was born, the protagonist of a wonderful story about how he discovered the world of specialty coffees.

It all started in his childhood. His parents managed a cattle farm near a small plot that they themselves owned, where they grew coffee in the most traditional way, like most producers in Colombia. Robinson was allowed to grow small crops of beans, corn and other legumes, with which he saved money and learned to deeply love the countryside and the land. However, his true passion was growing vegetables and legumes, not coffee, as he saw the difficulties his parents faced with this crop.

At the age of 20, due to personal circumstances, he had to abandon his land, leaving his parents on the farm with a crop that barely covered their expenses. At that time, in 2018, a coffee farmer in Colombia was unable to cover production costs by selling his coffee at price C. Robinson left the field for five years, without studies or knowledge, and worked as a business advisor in a electrical products company. This experience allowed her to broaden his vision and understand different ways of thinking, as well as observe how many companies conducted their businesses with their own resources.

That experience became the inspiration and motivation he needed to return to the farm and start his specialty coffee business. With savings from growing his small crops since childhood and savings from his job as a business consultant, he was able to make the down payment to buy his own 4-hectare farm. From the beginning, he had a clear vision that he would not manage the farm as his father had done, but would take it to a technical era, with innovative management, fertilization and coffee production methods, always focused on a specialty market.

He traveled through various municipalities, visiting farms and asking himself the following question: "Why do wealthy people have more beautiful farms than those with fewer resources?" It was during these explorations, questions, studies, and comparisons that he discovered the need for disruptive changes in crop setup and management. He decided to increase the planting densities and increase the fertilization of the plants to achieve a more productive farm.

Three years of hard work were necessary to consolidate the farm and see the first harvests. During this time, he received criticism from his neighbors and even from his own father, who claimed that he was wasting money by doing things differently. However, Robinson always had faith that his project would be successful. With passion, he worked alongside his parents, managing the farm, harvesting, fertilizing and doing all the chores themselves. In addition, his curiosity led him to study more, explore new processing methods, try new varieties, and perform all activities differently from what had been done traditionally.

Today, Robinson has managed to pay off his estate in full and, in addition, has acquired the property of his neighbor. He grows varieties like Tabi, Castillo, Colombia, and the delicious Gesha Sunflower. His coffees captivate us with their exquisite notes of Lemongrass, pineapple, ginger, lemon, caramel, panela, malic acidity, smooth, clean body and smooth residue. In addition, he has perfected different processes, such as naturals, honeys, and semi-washes, which he performs in a simple but highly organized processing plant.

For us, it is a pride to meet producers like Robinson, who at only 30 years old teaches us to believe, be passionate and move, instead of staying stagnant. His story shows us that faith in our dreams, passion for what we love and curiosity to explore new paths are the essential ingredients to carry out extraordinary projects.