NAME: Alexander & Lidia Vargas

NOTES: Passionfruit, Lychee, Jasmine

COUNTRY: Colombia

REGION: Palestina, Hulia

PRODUCER: Alexander & Lidia Vargas

VARIETY: Pink Bourbon

ALTITUDE: 1900 MASL

PROCESS: Fully Washed

This coffee is a quiet rebellion against conventional rules - a layered, low-volume fermentation that defies textbook standards, yet consistently delivers remarkable clarity and complexity in the cup.

Grown in Palestina, Huila by Alexander and Lidia Vargas, this Pink Bourbon is a product of deep dedication. Alexander began his coffee journey at just 13, working on a neighbor’s farm known for pioneering specialty practices in the region. Years later, with his wife Lidia, he inherited two small plots and, by 2008, had saved enough to buy 11 hectares of land. What began as a modest venture has grown into a 14-hectare farm, where the couple now also processes cherries from nearby producers, including this small, daily-harvested Pink Bourbon.

The processing is a traditional method practiced by smallholders, a multi-day, layered fermentation. Each day’s pickings are depulped and added to the same open fermentation tank, building up layers over 3 to 5 days. The result is a fully washed coffee with depth, refined sweetness and tasting notes of passionfruit, lychee and jasmine - a cup that tells the story of each day’s effort.

Alexander is no stranger to producing great tasting coffee, having placed 7th in the Cup of Excellence (2021), and his continued work reflects the pursuit of quality over convenience. Beyond coffee, the family farms yuca, beans, and dragon fruit, supporting annual employment and reinforcing biodiversity. Their most recent effort includes reintroducing native shade trees - such as yellow guayacán and red cachingos - to restore soil health and revive the land’s natural beauty.

This coffee is a window into the lives of two people quietly shaping the future of specialty coffee - one careful layer at a time.