We’re proud to share something special with you: La Guadalupe, a community lot grown with care in Palestina, Huila, Colombia. This coffee isn’t the work of one farm, but of ten smallholder producers who live and farm in the lush highlands of Guadalupe. Many of them have been working this land for generations, passing down both tradition and responsibility.
Together, they form something rare: a shared project rooted in quality, collaboration, and mutual respect.
Grown Together
Each farmer manages around four hectares of land, small plots, but rich with knowledge. They process their coffee individually on their farms, using simple but carefully maintained wet mills and covered drying beds. Some ferment their coffee in water, others dry-ferment depending on the variety and weather. But all are united by a drive to improve. They’re planting newer cultivars, refining their processing, and reinvesting in their infrastructure, all with the goal of producing better coffee, and earning better prices for it.
Caravela, a B Corp-certified exporter and long-term partner, supports this process through hands-on training, regular quality feedback, and guaranteed prices well above the local market. Their PECA education program is a key part of that: a grassroots initiative offering practical support directly on the farm.
The Model
La Guadalupe is what’s called a “community lot.” Here’s what that means in practice:
– Each producer processes their coffee at home
– Dried parchment is delivered to a shared Caravela purchasing station
– The lots are cupped individually, and only those meeting quality standards are included
– The composition remains consistent, season after season
This kind of traceability means we’re not buying from an anonymous blend. We’re buying from the same people, year after year — and building something together.
The Producers
Here are the ten producers behind this release:
– Albeiro Ramirez
– Arnulfo Ramos
– Diego Oyuela
– Esteban Cuellar
– Helmer Ramos
– Jose Alberto Chicue
– Jose Javier Chicue
– Nelson Guzman
– Salvador Collazos
– Yulivan Fernando Lopez
Some are first-generation farmers, others carry on family traditions going back decades. Many have expanded their farms or built new infrastructure through the premiums they’ve earned from specialty coffee. It’s slow work, but meaningful, and every lot reflects that quiet dedication.
The Place
Guadalupe is a small township in the department of Huila, nestled along the slopes of Colombia’s Eastern Cordillera. Cool nights, rich volcanic soils, and elevations up to 2000m make it a perfect zone for growing vibrant, structured coffees. These are classic washed lots, clean, sweet, and full of character.
Harvest runs twice a year:
– May to August
– September to January
Drying is done carefully on parabolic patios or raised beds, protected from the rain and sun.
Why We Love It
La Guadalupe is more than a coffee, it’s a community effort. It’s ten producers choosing to grow together, share knowledge, and build something greater than the sum of their parts. It’s also a great cup: juicy, vibrant, and consistent, just the way we like it.
We hope you can taste that quiet care in every brew.
Available now, online and in-store.
