La Esmerelda is a farm owned and run by Norbey Quimbayo and his family in the Huila district, Colombia. It spans 12 hectares, 5 of which are dedicated to growing coffee, amongst plantain, mandarin and lime trees. The volcanic ash soil and high altitudes of La Esmerelda lend the perfect conditions for coffee production.
Norbey began his career as a coffee picker before taking on La Esmerelda in 2005 and honing his craft as a farmer. After a few years of producing commercial coffees he began to plant a range of varietals including Gesha and Pink Bourbon, quickly propelling him into the speciality markets. He has earned a stellar reputation internationally for his farming practices and processing techniques.
Cherries are hand picked to select only the ripest fruit, then anaerobically fermented for 40 hours. After this, they are pulped, washed and carefully dried under the Colombian sun.
Seasonal buying is about seeing coffee as a crop not a commodity, buying in harmony with the growing seasons to enjoy coffee at its best. This kind of buying has always been the backbone of our business and it’s something we’ve improved and refined every year.
