March 21, 2024
In the world of Colombian coffee, there are stories that transcend mere business ventures. They echo with the resonance of familial legacies, the tug of tradition, and the vibrant spirit of innovation. At the heart of such tales stands Felipe Arcila, a figure who embodies the hero archetype in the annals of Colombian coffee.
Felipe's journey is one of courage, vision, and a deep-seated connection to his roots. Despite initially straying from his family's coffee legacy to pursue a career in engineering halfway across the globe in Australia, fate intervened, leading him back to the rich soils of his homeland. It was there that Felipe's perception of coffee underwent a profound transformation.
Realizing the untapped potential for specialty coffee akin to the world of fine wines, Felipe embarked on a mission to redefine Colombian coffee. But his vision faced a formidable obstacle in the form of his father, Jairo Arcila, a titan in the Colombian coffee industry who harbored reservations about deviating from traditional practices.
Undeterred by familial skepticism, Felipe forged ahead, pioneering innovative farming and processing techniques that pushed the boundaries of what Colombian coffee could achieve. Through perseverance and unwavering dedication, he not only established himself as a trailblazer in the industry but also earned the respect of his father, who gradually recognized the merit of his son's vision.
The culmination of Felipe's journey materialized in the form of Jardines Del Eden, a flagship farm that symbolized a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation. Here, amidst the lush landscapes of Colombia, Felipe cultivated an ethos of experimentation and excellence, producing coffees that captivated the senses and challenged conventions.
One such exemplar is the Sidra variety coffee, meticulously nurtured at Jardines Del Eden and subjected to a double anaerobic fermentation process under Felipe's discerning eye. The result is a brew that transcends mere beverage status, offering a sensory journey marked by nuanced flavors and intoxicating aromas.
Through the partnership with Felipe and Jardines Del Eden, we at Corvus have had the privilege of sharing in this extraordinary narrative. Each sip of coffee sourced from Felipe's farms is a testament to his unwavering commitment to quality and innovation—a legacy that continues to inspire us and coffee enthusiasts worldwide.
In Felipe Arcila, we find not just a visionary coffee producer but a steward of tradition and a catalyst for change. His journey reminds us of the profound power of passion, perseverance, and the profound connection between family, land, and a humble cup of coffee.
May 11, 2018
July 26, 2013
Balance-
We’ve been getting a lot of insight into the roasting process with the recent acquisition of our Giesen W15. Moving from an Ambex roaster to the Giesen has been an interesting, sometimes frustrating, process. We’ve been forced to rethink the roasting process and categorically eliminate some of our old habits which were based around the Ambex’s “personality.” Our good friend Chris Schooley is always advocating the benefits of roasting on as many machines as possible. He claims getting a feel for roasting on multiple equipment platforms enables you to understand the process outside of any individual equipment platform. This has absolutely been the case from the moment the Giesen was switched on.
Our new roaster is amazing, and not only challenges us to re-think how we roast and view the process, but gives us a different style of coffee to which we are adjusting. We’re finding a deeper amount of balance in all our coffees. Perhaps a little bit of this is due to the fact we are finding better processed coffees, but a little bit is due to the extreme stability of the Giesen; in direct heat, airflow, bean agitation, and even negative drum pressure. As we dial into the nuances of our roasting style, we are finding the coffee to be more full, acidity is balanced in the framework of the entire cup, flavors work a little better together, and our morning espresso is a more complete experience. Lopsided coffees are out- balanced coffees are in.
As we learn more, which is the point of being in this business, we’re excited to see how this translates with different coffees and how balance can be stretched to highlight the best qualities of each coffee we bring in. We’re very appreciative of you, our quality-focused customer, for your support and appreciation of the journey we are on to manage the unmanageable agricultural product we work with. Coffee. Get some.
December 30, 2012
Quality coffee is grown, not roasted. I think this is the underlying principle which guides roasters in the newest generation of specialty coffee. We don’t try to market our roasting skills; rather, we seek out sustainably grown lots of coffee, and constantly hone our ability to fully develop the existing flavor. We focus on the farm, and understand that improving growing & processing methods is the best way to improve quality.
Being someone who subscribes to this principle, it’s amazing the variation of green coffee quality I find through importers who sell primarily to specialty coffee roasters. We have several importers which will reliably send us more samples of improperly dried, past crop coffee which is full of defects than samples of a quality level I expect for specialty coffee. What is disturbing is somewhere, “specialty” coffee roasters are selling this as artisan coffee and people are buying the snake oil. I’m not necessarily accusing any roaster of being misleading, but there are multiple examples of small roasters which simply don’t know the difference between good and poor coffee quality.
This raises the following question in my mind. What is the difference between Nescafe` buying well-processed robusta, roasting it consistently, marketing it as “shared value” coffee, and a small roaster buying past crop, unevenly dried, over-ripe, high-grown arabica and marketing it as “small-batch” specialty coffee? Nothing.
All this being said, what I think needs to happen in the specialty coffee industry is a greater assumption of responsibility within the emerging roasting community. We can rely on marketing, or “anti-marketing” and the title of small-batch roasters, or we can be seeking out knowledge and rely on a consistent cycle of improvement within our craft. Don’t use the phrase small-batch without explaining how this impacts quality; and if you don’t know what it means, don’t use it (Hint: It’s not the same thing as having a “small” roaster). Admit that we are all constantly improving our abilities, instead of presenting yourself as an authority on coffee. Learn about green evaluation and how, on a practical level, proper drying and sorting affects the cup. The best way to know when you’ve found a very knowledgeable coffee authority is they are eager to learn. The opposite is also true.
If we assume the mantle of “specialty coffee roaster” let’s ensure it means something. I know that as more roasters understand that being in specialty coffee carries a responsibility to every person; from the farmer, to the consumer, and visibility to coffee at each level, this industry will make exponential gains. Sepia toned pictures of a tiny roaster and vintage coffee packaging do not a specialty roaster make; constantly seeking out ways to improve your understanding & skill does.
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