El Refugio
COLOMBIA
The plantation of Orlando Alba is located near the municipality of San Agustín in the Department of Huila, at an altitude of 1800 metres above sea level. Orlando farms on the 50-hectare Finca El Refugio which has been passed over in his family over generations. Our featured lot is a mix of Caturra and Castillo varietals dried under the sun for 15 days.
Specialty coffee production helped Orlando preserve the picturesque farm where he grew up. With the help of InConexus, a private organization focused on the creation of sustainable alternatives, he halted and reversed deforestation and preserved the remaining tree cover, turning to shade-grown coffee production as a way to increase coffee quality and increase his income. InConexus also helped him diversify coffee varieties and separate lots by variety to add value.