Colombia, Finca Betania, Pink Bourbon, Washed (COMPETITION LOT)

Linarco Rodriguez leads Tierra Diversidad, a collective of 117 smallholder farmers in Palestina, Huila, Colombia. Working with traditional farming methods and avoiding chemical inputs, these producers share a deep respect for their land. Through his dedication and continued improvements in cultivation and processing, Linarco has helped raise the quality of both his own coffees and those of the wider community.

Grown at around 2,000 metres above sea level on Finca Betania and neighbouring smallholder farms, this Pink Bourbon represents a particularly selective expression of his work. Prepared specifically for comptitions, this lot follows a more exacting approach than his regular production. Linarco selects particular trees, picking areas and individual cherries, working with much smaller batches rather than processing a larger harvest together.

This smaller scale allows closer attention at every stage, from cherry selection to fermentation and drying. Keeping batches separate gives Linarco greater control over their preparation, allowing him to work towards a precise cup profile. The lot’s exclusivity comes not simply from its limited volume, but from the additional labour, care and higher production costs involved.

Carefully hand-picked cherries are fermented in water, then thoroughly washed to remove the remaining mucilage. The coffee is slowly dried under controlled conditions and rested in Tierra Diversidad’s warehouse before export.

We first discovered Linarco’s coffees last year and were immediately drawn to their clean, consistent profiles. A shared commitment to quality and thoughtful production led us to a partnership showcasing his varieties seasonally in Belgium. This competition-prepared lot offers a special opportunity to explore the detail and precision behind his work.