ALTITUDE 1750 MASL // REGION - LA PLATA - HUILA // PROCESS - WASHED // VARIETY - CASTILLO COLOMBIA BOURBON

Colombia Dora Mendez - House Blend 100% Arabica Speciality Grade Coffee

A Lasting Partnership with Dora Méndez

Back in 2020, our importer began working with Colombian producer Dora Méndez, sourcing a distinctive and characterful lot that immediately stood out for its clarity and complexity. This marked the beginning of what we hoped would become a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship rooted in transparency and quality. However, in February 2021, Finca Beunavista was severely impacted by a landslide. This natural disaster caused a substantial setback in production, creating a noticeable gap in the forthcoming harvest and highlighting the vulnerability of farming in mountainous regions.

Sustainable Solutions and Long-Term Resilience

In the wake of these challenges, Dora has taken a bold and thoughtful approach to land management. With the ongoing guidance and support of the team at Cedro Alto, she has chosen to reject prevailing agricultural practices that favour short-term yields over environmental stability. Instead, she has planted native hardwood shade trees across her farm—a decision that will, over time, reinforce the integrity of the hillside, enrich the soil, and foster greater biodiversity.

These trees not only offer a natural safeguard against future erosion, but also help to create a more stable microclimate for coffee cultivation. In the long run, this approach is expected to improve both the health of the ecosystem and the quality of the coffee produced—ensuring that the farm can remain productive and resilient in the face of climate change and other environmental pressures.

Commitment, Collaboration, and a Shared Vision

Thanks to the tireless efforts and dedication of Julio and Karl at Cedro Alto, who continue to bridge the gap between producers and roasters with integrity and care, we remain hopeful that our relationship with Dora will continue to deepen and evolve over the coming years. Their work has been instrumental in fostering meaningful, sustainable partnerships that benefit everyone along the supply chain.

We are proud to support producers like Dora, whose commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation ensures not just exceptional coffee in the cup, but a better future for coffee farming communities.