Colombia – Perijá

Producer: Antonio “Toño” María
Antonio María was displaced by violence in the 1990s from the Norte de Santander region of Colombia. During that time, with the help of a family member, he arrived in the village of Media Luna. Using his savings, he was able to acquire his first plots of land, where he began cultivating coffee and beans.
Over time, he focused exclusively on coffee production, gradually involving his children in the work and passing on his knowledge and experience.
Today, Antonio María is dedicated to producing high-quality coffee, and his farm has grown significantly—from an
initial four plots to more than forty.

Perijá Blend Washed : Toño María’s process begins at harvest, where he maintains strict quality control. He works closely with his pickers, rewarding those who select only fully ripe coffee with a premium of 100 pesos per kilogram.

After this careful selection, the coffee undergoes an initial fermentation of approximately 12 hours. Once de-pulped, the beans are fermented again for an additional 24 hours to break down the remaining mucilage.

The coffee is then dried using traditional methods on patios at his home in Media Luna. Here, the beans are spread in thin layers and regularly turned to ensure even drying under the sun, preserving quality and preventing defects.