Colombia Jardines del Eden (Filter)

Maracaturra is a natural hybrid of Maragogipe and Caturra, first discovered in Nicaragua. It combines the best traits of its parent varieties: the large bean size and robust leaves of Maragogipe, along with the high productivity and compact growth of Caturra. While primarily cultivated in Brazil, Nicaragua and El Salvador, it has recently attracted growing interest in Colombia as a relatively new variety. Maracaturra has demonstrated strong adaptability at elevations between 1,000 and 1,500 m.a.s.l. However, it is susceptible to coffee leaf rust but tolerant of drought.
We were fortunate to taste this variety and were captivated by its flavour profile and aromatic complexity. Despite its delicate cultivation requirements, we began growing it in 2021 at our Jardines farms, at an altitude of 1,700 m.a.s.l., where it has performed remarkably well. The results have been exceptional: this varietal stands out for its sweetness, floral notes, yellow fruit flavours and vibrant, bright acidity. At Jardines, the team of pickers selectively harvests only the ripest cherries, then carefully transports them to La Pradera—Cofinet’s processing centre. To preserve their freshness, the cherries are transported in GrainPro bags or suitable containers during the cool early morning hours, a crucial step in preventing over-fermentation. Upon arrival, they are first floated in water tanks to remove low-density beans. The water used at this stage is recycled for more batches that require floating. Once this water is no longer suitable, it is filtered through a series of specialised tanks before being used to irrigate vetiver grass beds, where it is released as oxygen. This natural filtration process purifies the water, ensuring that no contaminated water is discharged from our processing centre and maintaining an environmentally sustainable operation.
After floating, the cherries undergo a meticulous hand-sorting stage. Here, we remove any unripe, overripe, or faulty cherries to ensure only the best cherries move forward in the process.