Colombia Nariño Buesaco

Enjoy our new coffee from Nariño Our Colombia Nariño Buesaco awakens with an aroma of pink lemonade, peach rings and a strawberry finish. Undertones from cupping: milk chocolate, spice, nectarine. Sweet aroma with an orange citrus acidity.

Sourced from the elevated terrains of Buesaco Nariño in southern Colombia, this exquisite coffee is cultivated at over 2,000 meters above sea level on average. Buesaco's unique geographic and climatic conditions, characterized by volcanic soil and an average temperature of 18.6 °C, provide an optimal environment for producing coffee with distinct mild taste, high acidity, and sweet notes. The region’s coffee cultivation heritage dates back to the 18th century, growing over time to become an integral part of the local cultural, economic, and social fabric. With its first international exposure in the early 20th century, Buesaco Nariño's coffee has since been celebrated in the specialty coffee segment worldwide for its unparalleled quality, cultivated in the unique environmental conditions of the region.

Coffee came to Colombia in the late 1700s by way of Jesuit priests who were among the Spanish colonists, and the first plantings were in the north of the country, in the Santander and Boyaca departments. Throughout the 19th century, coffee plants spread through the country, with a smaller average farm size than more commonly found throughout other Latin American producing countries.

Even though it’s been 4,000 years, the soil resulting from the last major eruption of Tolima is still considered “young soil,” filled with nutrients that are no longer found at the same levels in old soil. Volcanic soil contains high levels of potassium and nitrogen, which are fading or absent in other soils. “Boron”, which arrived from outer space long ago, is also present. Boron plays a key role in a diverse range of plant functions: it is essential to the structure of plant cell walls and in the creation of enzymes, and in flowering and fruit formation, meaning that Boron contributes to coffee seed yield.

In addition to nutrients, the structure of volcanic soil is also beneficial to coffee growing. It can soak up and hold moisture while, at the same time, facilitating good drainage so that the water doesn’t pool, which is not good for coffee plant roots. Coffee plants like to take a drink, then take a break. Additionally, volcanic soils are usually found on an incline, which also helps with drainage. All of these “microclimate” factors come together to bring you the complex, nuanced flavors in your cup of coffee.

As with many coffee origins, it is believed that coffee was first brought to Colombia by priests, arriving, perhaps, within a decade or two after coffee first came to the Americas via the Caribbean in the first half of the 17th century. It was likely a garden crop grown for local consumption and barter for decades. Generations of Colombians tell the story of a priest named Francisco Romero, who could be called the father of commercial coffee cultivation in Colombia. The folkloric tale goes that in the early 1800’s, Father Francisco, hearing confessions in the north eastern town of Salazar de la Palmas, assigned planting coffee to his parishioners as penance for their sins. The Archbishop of Colombia heard about this and ordered all priests to adopt the practice. Commercial production of coffee expanded quickly, moving into regions where the growing conditions were ideal.