Story
In 2019, we visited Colombia in order to seek out the famed Inmaculada Coffee Farms. Before making the drive to Pinchindé, we met Fernando Oka, who graciously showed us around Cali, Colombia. Over the afternoon, we quickly realized that Fernando is a bit of an institution among the population of Cali. Everywhere we went, Fernando was greeted and invited in, making his rounds to the tables before settling in. We like to joke that Fernando is the unofficial Governor of Cali with how well-networked and social he is, but the truth is that Fernando is an extremely passionate person. Fernando has a deep love for food and wine, not to mention coffee, but most of all for people. His beloved nature extends well beyond the town of Cali, Colombia, to the greater specialty coffee world. We’ve been lucky enough to travel the world with Fernando, and yet it still feels like we are sitting in a restaurant in Cali, as he is just as likely to make his social rounds in Greece as he is in Colombia. As he struck out on his own to aid in connecting roasters with specialty producers from Colombia, we were quick to support him as often as we could.
The outcome of our close partnership has been a curated offering list that we’ve assembled over the past few months of harvest. As we make our way through this curated lineup, we’ve asked Fernando a series of questions, which you can find below.
Speaking into our relationship as an extension of our sourcing program; How did you find this coffee, and who grew it?
I found this producer through a friend Felipe Vega and I started buying coffee from him in 2019. So he told me on 2019 that he just started planting Pink bourbon.
How did you meet this producer?
So, we met over the phone on 2019. And 2021 after Covid I went to his farm Mesitas.
How was it processed, and what stood out about this particular coffee?
With Luis we are doing an 18 hour oxidation in Cherry and 72 hours anaerobic fermentation de-pulped.
What are the growing conditions of this coffee?
What I really like of this coffee is the spiced and fruit character, clean wine notes, long pleasant aftertaste. Its fruity but elegant. This is Good reflection of a great Pink bourbon.
San Agustin Huila is a town very famous for great coffee. It is an indigenous Region of high altitude and great conditions for coffee. The change of temperature between day and night makes his coffees unique in complexity and sweetness.
What trends are you seeing in Colombian specialty coffee?
Again this coffee is probably against the trend is classic but modern coffee with fruit character but Pink bourbon really like this processing and terroir.
What are you hoping to highlight as we curate more coffees together?
This producer deserves to be recognized for his dedication and passion. His standards are so high that this coffee is always consistent. This coffee is a great a representation of a artisan producer that has taken the most important variables into account.