Introduction to Colombia Huila Garzón La Orquídea Estate

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Huila Garzón · La Orquidea Estate

COLOMBIA HUILA GARZON

Origin Country: Colombia

Region: Huila-Garzon

Estate Name: La Orquidea

Variety: Caturra

Altitude: 1650-1740 meters

Processing Method: Washed 100h Fermentation

Flavor: Like the estate it is named after, this coffee carries a distinctive orchid note, layered with grape juice, caramel and cider, a pleasant acidity and a delicate floral finish

Estate Introduction

Anyelo went into coffee at the age of twelve, inheriting Finca Alto Cielo and Finca La Orquidea from his parents. He began with just 200 Typica trees and later added Caturra. When leaf rust swept through the region in 2000, the estate decided to plant more disease-resistant varieties so that quality and cupping scores would hold steady, which in turn brought better prices. Today those prices reflect the estate's quality, and the extra income has paid for better processing. Anyelo keeps experimenting and planting new varieties, chasing differentiation in the cup so the farm can earn more and grow sustainably. He lives with his wife and three children, and the planted area has now reached 10 hectares.

In 2015, Anyelo and neighbouring growers founded a producers' association called "Association El Paraiso," which now has 40 members and a shared goal of improving living conditions. The group runs training on quality-improvement practices and carries out projects to upgrade production infrastructure and daily life.

The estate avoids soil contaminated by toxic chemicals and does not over-clear grass, which keeps erosion in check. Harvesting has changed too. Only ripe cherries are picked, then washed and sorted to remove diseased fruit before processing. From there, a tailored processing plan is drawn up for each lot according to its potential.

FrontStreet Coffee's Recommended Brewing Method

Recommended Brewing Method: Pour-over

Dripper: V60

Grind Size: Medium-fine

Water Temperature: 90±1°C

30g of water for blooming, with a blooming time of 30s

Segmentation: Pour water to 120g, then pause; slowly pour water to 225g

That is, 30-120-225g

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If this estate's orchid-and-caramel profile appeals to you, FrontStreet's Colombia Huila is a natural next step. Huila, in the southern central cordillera, is Colombia's best-known specialty region, ringed by mountains with farms planted above 1,500 meters and fed by the country's most important rivers meeting nearby. FrontStreet's washed Huila is roasted medium-dark to play up black chocolate, nutty sweetness, moderate oils and a full body.

It is a genuinely versatile bean: pour-over and French press bring out its clarity, while a moka pot or an espresso machine turns it into Americano and latte without losing its backbone. For drinkers who want the fruitier side of Colombia, FrontStreet's La Divisa Sidra is processed as an anaerobic natural, fermenting in a low-oxygen environment to build tropical aromas of passion fruit, grape and apricot, and it shines as pour-over, cold brew, drip bag or moka pot.