Regular price 1,154.00 ฿
Unit price per
Flavor Notes
Cranberry, Red cherry, Lime, Floral, Blueberry, Cacao nibs, Syrupy, Complex
Beans
Farm & Producer : Las Margaritas, Cafe Granja La Esperanza
Region: Caicedonia, Valle del Cauca,Colombia
Altitude: 1,611 - 1,661m
Varietal: CGLE-17
Processing: Anaerobic Natural
Roast Level
Light roast
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＜CGLE Las Margaritas＞
The farm featured this time is Las Margaritas, one of the four estates operated by Café Granja La Esperanza (CGLE). If you have visited specialty coffee shops before, chances are you’ve come across the name “CGLE.” It is one of Colombia’s most respected coffee producers, renowned worldwide for cultivating exceptional coffees and pioneering innovative varieties.
Covering 33.8 hectares at elevations ranging from 1,570 to 1,850 meters above sea level, Las Margaritas is divided into thirteen distinct plots. Each benefits from its own unique microclimate, allowing the farm to cultivate a remarkable range of rare coffee varieties, including Geisha, Sudan Rume, Sidra, Laurina, and many others. The farm serves as one of the key foundations supporting CGLE’s decades of expertise in variety selection and processing innovation.
Las Margaritas is located in Valle del Cauca, neighboring the department of Cauca, famous for the coffee-growing region around Popayán in southwestern Colombia. Stretching across the Andes Mountains at elevations between 1,400 and 2,000 meters, the region enjoys warm, humid conditions paired with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. Combined with the cultivation of diverse coffee varieties and highly refined processing techniques, these natural conditions produce coffees that are celebrated around the world. Valle del Cauca is also home to Buenaventura, one of Colombia’s largest export ports, making it a vital gateway for the country’s coffee exports.
The story of Café Granja La Esperanza (CGLE) began in 1945, when Juan Antonio and Blanca Ligia took over the management of Potosí Farm. At a time when Typica dominated Colombian coffee production, they boldly introduced new varieties such as Yellow Bourbon, Red Bourbon, and Caturra. Working alongside their fourteen children, the family steadily expanded the farm, establishing the spirit of innovation that continues to define CGLE today.
The next generation, led by brothers Rigoberto and Luis, inherited the family business and shifted their focus beyond productivity toward exceptional cup quality. They established La Esperanza Farm in the Trujillo region, where they devoted themselves to researching organic farming methods and advanced coffee processing techniques.
A defining moment in CGLE’s history came in 2008. In 2007, Rigoberto was entrusted with managing La Carleida Farm in Boquete, Panama. The following year, the farm won the prestigious Best of Panama competition. Inspired by the extraordinary potential of the Geisha variety, Rigoberto brought Geisha seeds back to Colombia. This bold decision marked one of the earliest introductions of Geisha cultivation in the country and became a major turning point that established CGLE as one of the world’s leading specialty coffee producers.
Today, CGLE operates several renowned farms, including Potosí, La Esperanza, Las Margaritas, Cerro Azul, and more recently Hawaii. In addition, the company supports coffee producers across Colombia through its Regional Program, helping raise the quality of specialty coffee throughout the country.
Among these farms, Las Margaritas is dedicated to uncompromising quality at every stage of production. Harvested cherries undergo a rigorous three-step sorting process consisting of flotation, electronic sorting, and careful hand selection. Fermentation is then individually managed for each lot, allowing every variety to express its unique character while maintaining exceptional consistency through meticulous quality control.
The variety featured in this coffee is CGLE-17, an original cultivar developed exclusively by CGLE. Its development was driven by two goals: improving resistance to coffee leaf rust while producing trees capable of maintaining stable performance during dry seasons.
In 2011, researchers selected an outstanding Caturra tree growing at Potosí Farm and began crossing it with Geisha. The first trees were planted in 2014, with the initial harvest taking place three years later.
The first cup evaluations, however, were far from ideal. While promising, the coffee lacked complexity and still required significant improvement. Rather than abandoning the project, the development team recognized the cultivar’s long-term potential—not only in flavor but also in tree vigor, productivity, and disease resistance—and continued refining it.
Further breeding was carried out using carefully selected Geisha plants from Cerro Azul, eventually resulting in what is now known as CGLE-17.
In 2017, the first CGLE-17 trees were planted in the highest section of Potosí Farm at 1,890 meters above sea level. Beginning with just 642 trees across 0.25 hectares, this remarkable variety has come to symbolize CGLE’s unwavering commitment to shaping the future of specialty coffee.
The coffee is processed using an Anaerobic Natural method. Only perfectly ripe cherries are selected before undergoing a 48-hour oxidation stage, during which naturally occurring yeasts and microorganisms on the fruit begin developing the coffee’s complex aromatic profile.
The cherries are then transferred into sealed fermentation tanks for 24 hours of anaerobic fermentation. By eliminating oxygen during this stage, the process enhances vibrant floral aromatics, concentrated fruit character, and layers of refined sweetness.
Following fermentation, the coffee is slowly dried for 8 to 12 days in mechanical silos maintained at 38°C (100°F). Carefully controlled drying conditions ensure consistent quality while preserving the coffee’s natural complexity. After drying, the coffee is rested in climate-controlled warehouses maintained at 18–19°C (64–66°F) until it reaches its ideal condition for roasting.
Despite its international recognition, CGLE continues to push the boundaries of specialty coffee through the development of new varieties and the exploration of advanced processing techniques. Every cup reflects more than 80 years of innovation, perseverance, and a philosophy dedicated to creating a better future for coffee.