COLOMBIA, El Recreo, Espresso

Alirio Rodriguez has been producing coffee for more than 30 years. He’s a third-generation coffee producer and, at the age of 15, he bought his farm, Finca El Recreo. Today, he is focused on achieving high coffee quality and sustainable prices. He is joined by two of his adult children who work with him on the farm.
Alirio transitioned to specialty coffee in 2018. He made the switch because of the low prices of commercial coffee and the desire to improve and expand his coffee production.
The Caturron variety is a relatively new variety from Acevedo, Colombia that's virtually unknown outside of that region. Its exact genetic lineage is currently unknown, but the variety is fast becoming recognized for its distinctive flavor and large cherry. Caturron is also resistant to coffee leaf rust and has relatively high yields.
One of the biggest challenges Alirio faces is climate change and its effect on flowering and harvest. He’s also struggling with the high costs of inputs. As he strives to improve coffee quality, he’s planning to invest in a large mechanical dryer that would make drying more consistent and controllable.
Once ripe, red cherry is harvested, Alirio lays cherry on raised beds to dry. Cherry is raked frequently to ensure even drying.