Alcidez Avendaño

About the producer

Alcidez Avendaño is a coffee farmer from Huila, Colombia. He farms two parcels of land, Finca Buena Vista and Finca Buenos Aires, near the town of Gigante.

Alcidez manages the farms himself and is deeply committed to producing high-quality coffee. Most of his coffee is Caturra, a variety that is less common in the region because of its susceptibility to leaf rust. Alcidez believes the quality he can achieve from Caturra makes the risk worthwhile. He also grows a small amount of Pink Bourbon, which has now reached maturity and is producing some excellent coffee.

Alcidez lives on the farm with his wife Gloria and two children, Diego Andres and Jhon Freddy. His hope is to build a profitable and sustainable coffee business that will allow his children to take over the farm in the future.

Visiting the farm

We have been buying coffee from Gigante, Huila, since 2022, with Alcidez contributing coffee to our Teamwork Espresso blend as well as producing other lots that we have roasted separately for both filter and espresso. All of our coffees from Alcidez are purchased through the importer and exporter Caravela. In 2023, we were invited to visit their operation in Gigante and, most importantly, to meet Alcidez in person.

The visit was particularly special for us because it was our first time visiting a coffee farm. After more than 10 years of working in coffee roasteries, seeing coffee being processed and the fruit growing on the trees was a completely new experience. It was a privilege to finally see this side of the industry and to meet the person behind a coffee we had been buying from for the last few years.

Alcidez’s farm is not far from Gigante, but at around 1,880 metres above sea level, the journey involves a constant climb along dirt-track roads. The land is divided across two plots, each with its own name. Finca Buenos Aires is the lower-altitude farm, while Finca Buena Vista sits slightly higher up the mountain.

Walking around the farm, it was clear how passionate and energised Alcidez is about producing coffee. His decision to continue growing Caturra, despite the risks associated with leaf rust and advice from others to grow different varieties, reflects his confidence in his farming and his commitment to quality.

Meeting Alcidez and seeing the farm first hand gave us a much greater understanding of the work, skill and dedication behind the coffee we buy from him.

Processing

All of the coffee produced on Alcidez’s farm is processed using the washed method. The coffee cherries are depulped at the small beneficio on the farm and then ferments the coffee in water for two days.

After fermentation, the coffee is washed and transferred to a solar dryer, where it is dried for an average of 25 days. The drying time can vary considerably depending on the temperature and weather conditions.

Transparency

The prices for all the coffee we purchase from Alcidez are negotiated directly with him. The prices we agree on are intended to cover his costs of production, provide a living income, and leave enough profit for him to continue investing in and producing coffee.

Once the coffee has been dried on the farm, Alcidez delivers it to Caravela’s warehouse in Gigante. The coffee is assessed for quality, and Alcidez is paid in full within two weeks of delivery. From this point onward, Caravela takes responsibility for financing the coffee and managing the logistics involved in milling, exporting and shipping it to Dublin Port. Caravela also assumes responsibility for the coffee and the risks associated with any damage or deterioration during transport.