El Puente, Columbia

Established in 2018, El Puente addresses issues faced by local small farmers, such as the lack of proper processing methods, financial resources, and the risk of adopting new cultivation techniques. Translated to Finnish, El Puente means "bridge." The project serves as a support system for local farmers, assisting them in all aspects of coffee cultivation and processing for sales. Through El Puente, the farmers have improved the quality of their coffee, ultimately increasing their income. They ensure that the coffee cherries brought to the station meet their quality criteria and are processed carefully, resulting in this high-quality, pure, and delicious coffee.
This coffee is a blend of cherries collected from various farms in the region. Upon arrival at the processing station, the maturity of the cherries is checked. The coffee is then floated to separate defective cherries, and the cherries are separated from the coffee beans. The station uses a Brix measurement device (indicating sugar content) to determine the fermentation time, which occurs in closed tanks for approximately 30-42 hours. Afterward, the coffee is washed and dried for about 15-18 days on elevated beds.