Country / District : Colombia, Huila, Timanà
Varietal: Pink Bourbon
Process: Natural 230h in tank 
Altitude: 1750 masl
Tasting notes:  Dark Chocolate, Cointreau, Plum
 
 
Suggested for: Filter, Moka
 
 
 
 
More info about this coffee:
 
 
Rafael Aya has spent his entire life surrounded by coffee, and for the past twenty years he has been cultivating his own farms in southern Colombia. Originally from Tolima, he moved to Huila as a teenager, where he later settled with his wife Elvira Cuéllar in La Florida, a rural area near Timaná. Together they established La Virginia, a five-hectare farm, three and a half hectares of which are currently producing coffee. In addition, Rafael also manages La Violeta, a six-hectare farm he began working on in 2018. La Violeta is owned by Dimitri, a Russian friend who runs a coffee company. Their strong relationship started when Dimitri tasted Rafael’s coffee, leading to a long-term business partnership based on trust and quality. Since 2018, Rafael has specialized in producing high-quality coffee, much of which he sells to Dimitri. His coffees have also won fifteen international championships, further strengthening his reputation.
Before selling internationally, Rafael studied various aspects of coffee production at Colombia’s National Learning Service (SENA) Escuela Nacional del Café, located in nearby Pitalito. Azahar, a specialty coffee company, has collaborated with the Aya family since 2016, recognizing Rafael as one of the region’s most innovative producers. La Virginia itself is remarkable: its fields, drying areas, and gardens sit on the slopes of a mountain, separated from the rest of the property by a lush river valley with its own microclimate. Before the installation of a cable car system, transporting harvested coffee required long treks on foot or with the help of the family’s mule, Pacho.
Rafael is known not only for his dedication and innovation but also for the warm hospitality of his family. This Natural Pink Bourbon is a Masterpiece of his coffee art.